Is Your Shed a Sitting Duck? Secure Your Possessions with These Essential Tips
Garden sheds offer amazing benefits, such as a place to store away the lawnmower, strimmer and other gardening tools. Some people keep even more valuable items in their sheds, including pushbikes, mopeds and motorbikes, and this is why sheds are often seen as easy targets by thieves.
Sheds are usually packed to the roof with valuable tools, appliances, and other equipment, but keeping them away from the house can make them less secure than our homes. What is more, the very tools stored inside most garden sheds can be used by burglars to help break into your house!
This means securing your shed with the best possible lock and other security accessories is crucial in protecting your property and peace of mind. An insecure shed can end up costing you far more than you think.
Positioning is Everything
Where you put your shed plays a significant role in its security. Ideally, you should position it to be easily visible from your house, allowing you to keep an eye on it, but not so exposed to passers-by that it becomes an obvious target for thieves from the street.
Garden sheds come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a variety of materials. If you are buying a new shed for your garden, don’t make it easy for thieves to lift and carry away your shed! If you choose a shed that is small and light in construction, consider anchoring it to the ground using L brackets and screws or by placing heavy items like breeze blocks inside to make it difficult for thieves to move. You could even attach it to a brick wall to make it more secure. This deters thieves and prevents your shed from blowing over in strong winter winds.
Reinforce the Hinges and Upgrade Your Shed Lock
Standard shed door hinges are often a weak point that leaves your shed easy to break into. They are usually attached with short screws that can be easily removed with a screwdriver or easily pried open. Upgrade your shed security by replacing flimsy hinges and swapping the screws for nuts and bolts, and consider using a strong adhesive like super glue to secure the nut to the bolt on the inside. This makes it a lot harder for thieves to force the door open.
The basic lock that comes with most commercially manufactured sheds offers minimal security. Adding a sturdy hasp and staple combined with a high-quality padlock is a simple and effective upgrade to secure your shed better. If your shed holds particularly valuable items, consider adding a closed shackle padlock, which offers better protection against bolt cutters and saws. While you want the best lock for your shed, avoid going overboard by adding multiple padlocks, as this might draw unwanted attention from thieves targeting extra valuable goods.
Keep Out Prying Eyes
If your shed has windows, potential thieves can easily see what is inside. If you don’t need windows for natural light, consider blocking them completely with opaque security film or frosted glass spray. If you do need the light, install blinds or curtains, but always ensure they are closed when you are not in the shed.
Even after installing stronger shed locks and reinforced hinges, a determined thief might still find a way in. This is why we recommend adding a shed alarm, as it will act as a powerful deterrent. Wireless alarms with motion sensors and door sensors are readily available and easy to install, and they will give you an extra layer of protection for your valuable garden tools, bikes, and other items.
Organise and Lock Up
Keeping your shed well organised can also help with safety and security. Leaving tools lying around not only looks untidy and can be dangerous, but it can also provide thieves with potential tools to more easily break into your home. It makes sense to invest in some storage solutions like shelves, hooks, and a pegboard to keep your shed organised and your tools safely stored away.
You should also consider storing tools that are particularly valuable or could be used by thieves to break into your home in a secure, lockable metal cabinet within your shed. This provides an extra layer of protection for valuable equipment even if the shed is breached.
Thieves hate doing jobs that take up too much time or are too much trouble. You can outfox criminals and encourage them to abandon their quest by adding extra security within your shed. Use a strong hacksaw-proof chain or bike lock to secure larger items like bikes and lawnmowers together. This makes it much harder for thieves to make off with your belongings once they have broken into your shed.
Marking your valuables with a UV pen or other security marking system increases the chances of recovering them should they be stolen. Register your valuable items with Immobilise, the national property register, to aid the police in identifying and returning stolen goods.
Lockout 247 is Here for you in Essex and North London
If you need help securing your shed or want to replace your shed locks following a break-in, Lockout 247 offers professional shed lock installation, repair, and replacement services throughout Essex and North London. Our experienced father-and-son locksmith team can advise you on the best locks for your shed, ensuring your valuable belongings are protected.
Whether you need a simple shed lock replacement or a complete security upgrade, we can help! Contact Lockout 247 today for a free consultation and secure your shed with confidence.
