Upgrading security

[Old Timer]

There is only so much that you can do to make a shed secure. By their very nature they are easy to break into. Even my large well built shed would be relatively easy.After the recent terrible news of a member having their bike stolen in broad daylight in the centre of a city got me wondering.

Anyway,although I live in a relatively crime free area I`m gonna upgrade a bit. I`ve already fitted window locks today (from my van stock) and am going to put more actual bolts through the hinges. The padbolts are already bolted on. I`ve also ordered a couple of battery operated audible alarms. Not high tech I know but with nothing showing outside I hope that if someone forces a door and is greeted with an alarm they might panic and leave.(my wife can hear a pin drop in a crowded pub) I`ve already got a blind at the windows from the days when I used it as a photo studio.

For the times when we aren`t here then what can you do? although my neighbours are keen eared and the village is normally quiet so that might help.

I made two 6` high gates for each side of the house a few years ago and they are padlocked at night.

So! the way I see it is just make it as difficult as possible. As far as securing the bike when away from home then I`m still undecided what the best method of attack is. An alarm maybe??

 

[flecc]

As far as securing the bike when away from home then I`m still undecided what the best method of attack is. An alarm maybe??

I fitted an alarm to one of my bikes, but I don't think they are much use, the public just ignore car and home alarms, so I doubt they'd take any notice of a bike one.

The dog method?
.

 

[Blew it]

Following a daylight snatch last year I now use a SHED-SHACKLE in my wooden shed. Two chains are used to secure the bikes, the second chain is set in a 30 kg block of concrete

In my workshop which has a concrete floor I use a ground anchor.

Since that raid I have blocked off the rear entrance to my garden, installed three cameras (one of which is covert). 130 decible door screechers complete the three layer security. Bring it on!!

Trouble is, round here, the bullets have started flying with a local drug war so we're keeping our heads down at the moment.

 

[daniel.weck]

Damn ! I guess we are lucky here, it's a pretty quiet location with only the occasional drifter group of thieves / burglars. We're not isolated, so neighbors can easily hear what's going on next door and in the street.

However tonight (just before reading this thread, coincindently) I have double-checked our little shed and the bikes inside. My "strategy" is to interlock our 2 bikes together through the frame in a way that makes it impossible to pull them out of the narrow door without separating them (I use the 30cm Abus Granit X Plus 54 with the shackle facing away, making picking the lock a much harder job).

I have just purchased a second Granit D-lock (23cm), which should definitely annoy even the most determined thief Then I use cheap cable locks to attach other parts to heavy bulky metal objects (these are easy to cut, but a pain because there's little room to maneuver around the surrounding clutter). The door itself has a lock on it, but to be honest that's a joke (anybody armed with a screw driver can dismantle the sliding locker thing ).

Obviously, the bikes are most at risk when temporarily parked during a ride...so that's where we have to be careful.

Cheers, Dan

 

[eddieo]

Obviously, the bikes are most at risk when temporarily parked during a ride...so that's where we have to be careful.

Cheers, Dan

[[

Dont know the statistics but garages/sheds are probably the most likely place you will lose your bikes (we lost 2 a few years ago security a lot better now)

There is a resonable amount of value in a garage with tools etc so why the hassle of breaking into a house.

ordinary bikes in garage/E bikes in house is my moto

 

[HarryB]

I have wirelessly extended the house alarm to the garage (it is right at the end of the garden and backs on to a service road). It has a wireless siren as well. Wireless alarms are pretty cheap on ebay - in fact I have a perfectly good spare that is so worthless that it hardly seems worth the bother of selling it on.

No attempts at forced entry yet, but of course those are the famous last words...

 

[daniel.weck]

@eddieo: you're probably right. We put the e-bikes in the house when we're away for more than a few days. Then again, we've got a small mid-terrace house and a tiny adjoined shed, none of which are isolated or hidden, so it's not an easy configuration for thieves/burglar to break-in. There are plenty of more attractive mansions all around us, so it depends what they're after.

My parents' detached house got broken-into a while ago, but because there was no valuables to steal, the burglars (gypsies who were traveling across towns, as it was later discovered) took some insignificant objects of emotional value to my mum and dad ... it left them quite distressed for a while, just the thought that anyone can forcefully invade your house without being noticed. My mum had to wash an entire wardrobe of clothes that had been "touched" by the intruders, she did the same with bed lining, etc. Little things like that that remind me that the the psychological trauma is often more important than the financial loss.

Anyway, they repaired the broken shutters, installed stronger locks, and they now have a more strict routine with regards to checking doors/windows before leaving the house.

Cheers, Dan

 

[Northern Irelander]

You can never be too careful

There are two things burglars don't like..............light and NOISE!

They'll usually have an exit plan, so:

Secure parameter fencing/garden for starters

Decent flood light, and some sort of alarm. Shed alarms can be picked up cheap and fitted so wires can't be cut.

I have a wireless alarm system, which can have up to twenty sensors.

M6 or M8 coach bolts on door hinges and locks, I heard recently that shed was broken into by removing the exterior screws on the hinges

Security cameras, or even a dummy.

Cloud out the shed windows (where fitted)

Warning DOG sign



Last but not least, anti-bling your bike (My favourite, Make - Volume 11
Uglifying your bike works a treat around town, nobody gives a second glance.
I parked up the bike and went for a coffee with the bike in full view. It got a lot of looks purely because of the shiney back hub. Sure as thieving magpies nab sparkly things, an ebike attracts the wrong sort of attention, it would have gone in no time at all. I have even de-blinged the rear hub motor, much too shiney, just spun the wheel and blasted with spray paint, nice terracotta red for that rust look

 

[daniel.weck]

Yep, most sheds are totally inadequate due to the use of screws for hinges and lock/handle There's no point investing in a big door padlock in that case !

Regarding making a bike look ugly: my problem is that even when really dirty, my Brompton still looks like a wonderfully-inspired and desirable piece of engineering What can I do ??! LOL

Cheers, Dan

 

[Mussels]

Last but not least, anti-bling your bike (My favourite, Make - Volume 11
Uglifying your bike works a treat around town, nobody gives a second glance.

I like that but I can't bring myself to make permanent changes, just like the author of that story as the before and after shots are different bikes (unless he deliberately replaced the V brakes with centre pull and left off the chain guard).

 

[Old Timer]

Done the hinges on two sheds. Just one decent 6mm coach bolt in each flap is all that is needed(back and front flaps) Padbolts were already bolted. I fitted (when new) two padbolts per shed (up 1/3rd from bottom and down 1/3rd from top) and there is a centre crap lock but it all adds to preventing leverage and slowing things down plus I have a light that is close to them that comes on as darkness falls.

Now i need to do the garden tool shed that houses our main freezer and garden tools.

That done we went for a 1 hr ride, no wind or rain just us two around the quiet lanes riding side by side for a change. My wife is really getting into it which is good and gives us something to share.

 

[eddieo]

That done we went for a 1 hr ride, no wind or rain just us two around the quiet lanes riding side by side for a change. My wife is really getting into it which is good and gives us something to share.

Thats what its all about, My wife was all "spending £££££ on a bike!" until I got her one. now she does not like me looking at it, let alone using it......

we had a month in France/Switzerland/Italy in the summer and cycled nearly every day. it was wonderful, the e bikes getting us places we could never get to before....

Love your photos by the way, you have real talent. My 16 year old son is a v insightful photographer, he was also impressed