Another post on here about a guy getting some stuff stolen from his shop made me think about posting this. How about some ideas for securing your shop from s*** bags? When I built mine, one of the reasons I put no windows in it was so that people couldn't see what I had in there. One thing I've seen is having doors swing out, rather than in, as it's harder to kick open a door that swings out. Requires tamper-proof hinges and a re-inforcement plate over the door knob area. I've also got a length of chain on a large eye-bolt in the bottom of my tool box (with a huge washer and nylock nut on the inside of the box securing the eye-bolt) fastened to a lag-bolt in the concrete. Not fool proof, but takes time--something a theif typically doesn't want to spend. Also have photos and descriptions of all my tools--for insurance company in case of theft or fire. I haven't scribed my social security number on all my stuff like a lot of people say you should do, but on some things I've used a paint pen and written "If Pawned, It's Stolen." and then my SSN. Like on the bottom of my battery charger, behind the instruction manual in my saber saw box, etc. Optimistic, but had nothing to lose. At my old house, I had a light outside the garage door on a motion sensor--I need to do that again at this place. Anybody else got some good anti-theft tips? -Brad
I shot my neighbors pit bull on my front lawn. People tend to leave me alone now. I also have an alarm system in the shop, and an intercom that I leave on at night. Also plenty of lights, no windows, steel doors. and I can see all the doors from the house.
for you guys like me that have there shop in there home garage take the ball off your garage door string. My buddy told me he could get in my garage quick with it closed and i didnt beleive him. we closed it and he took a piece of wire and hooked the ball and string by going threw the top seal in garage door and got a hold of the ball and string and it put the garage door into free mode!!! He has gone to lock smith school and has told me many scary storys. I have been with him enough at work to know not to buy cheap locks or lock sets. A drill bit in the right place and your in in seconds.Hope this helps some guys
NO WINDOWS, Steel Building, Sturdy Doors, 3 sets of locks, Well lit, a 120 lb. Akita and other means that wont be published. Did I mention one of my favorite books is Improvised Munitions?
One of the most important thing about doors is to get a steel frame with a steel door. A steel door and a wood frame will not do the trick unless you have reinforced the lock strike plate area. Use heavy duty long hardware for all your locks, not the cheap *** 1 inch screws. I've seen enough doors booted in to know. Also I go for the no windows anywhere in my shop. Yeah lighting ****s but you can't see what I have inside. Also for you guys with steel buildings, put some heavy metal grates on the backside (inside) of the metal between the posts. I've seen plenty of burglaries where a pair of tin snips were used to gain entry. Get a cheap alarm which has a contact on the door and a loud speaker with a combination control pad. It doesn't have to go to an alarm company but the noise will help too. Just my .02
x-10.com I bought time lapse video cameras, motion detectors,auto dialer and door alarms. He didnt get in the second time. I do NOT have an audible alarm in my shop. I dont want any thief to know I am coming out to check.
Maybe not "How To"; but do a check of your home owners insurance policy. It is almost standard with most insurance companies that garage contents are only covered up to $1,500.00. The vehicles IN the garage are NOT covered. It's ***umed the vehicle(s) is insured separately. If your tools are worth more than the $1,500.00 limit, (mine sure are) then you should apply for a policy extention. ("Additional Content Insurance") If you have a project "in progress", (not insured or even registered) consider getting it insured. It's not expensive because you don't need Public Liability. (it isn't being driven)
just food for thought i never worried about the safety of my stuff till i started posting on the hamb.. case in point.. one saturday morning (last spring) I had the garage doors open while I was workin on my 40, around 9am some dude pulls up in a newer camaro.. jumps out and starts rapping about my car.. we were having a nice discussion and everything was cool and all and then he proceedes to tell me that he "knows me from the HAMB." so then he starts telling me how he's a lurker and how he had noticed some of my posts on here and realized I was from the same town as he was.. long story short, in spite of the fact that the guy was pretty cool and all it gave me a new prospective on who's watching what we do here and what they might do with the knowledge we impart... since this kat stopped by I've locked all my doors and windows on a regular basis..
I'd rather not disclose exactly what i've done to secure my shop, but there have been some great suggestions posted. You might want to check with the last guy who broke in, he has less than a year left on his State of Michigan sponsored "vacation", so maybe he can offer some suggestions. Frank
I use to live in a small place with my shop below it. When I was out of town, one car was always ****ed up tight againt the swing out garage doors. The stairs to to old and tight to carry anything large up and out so it was pretty safe. Most theives are lazy, they will go for the weakest link.
You ever seen the Road Warrior. Build a fortress like that out of old truck and combine tires surrounding your garage with some flame throwers and people seem to stay away. Seriously though, decent security cameras are cheap, we got a decent 4 camera system for my shop and we got it inside, but all the little **** that was going on outside has stopped now just because of the camera system. Like the people who broke into the pop machine outside, and tried to again when we got the new one, stopped trying since we got it. And I can also leave my trailer parked there without having all the lugnuts stolen.
my brother heard of a guy on a car forum, the content of which will remain unnamed, that had a really nice car for its genre that he had built himself and spent toooons of money on. posted pictures of it on the forum, somebody saw em, car got stolen. real pro job with lots of recon...
I'd suggest using your driver's license number (like DL AL472999 or something) instead of SSN. I think I read somewhere police can't use your SSN to find you, but they can use your license number. More importantly, if s***bags stole a $50.00 Snap-On with your SSN on it and they know your name and address, they may be able to use it for iden***y theft...rippin' you a new one on your credit history. A HAMBer who protects and serves could probably say if I'm right on that, or just putting the **** in ****ysis (pulling it outta my ...) Thanks, Steve
prob one of the best ideas i had heard in a long time is simply a baby monitor out in the garage keep the other end of it on you nightstand and leave it on all the time its a very cheap simple and effective tool so you can hear if anythignn is going on out there i heard this from some of the guys on dif ATV forums for how they keep there garage safe
[ QUOTE ] i think this idea will kick everyones *** maybe he was the gunamn on the gr***y nole [/ QUOTE ] Glen ain't old enough to remember the gr***y knoll shooting deal in 1963 you are talking about... lol
i worked in the secuirty system business for some time. Most of the thefts i saw were thugs looking to bust in, grab something and be gone in 30 seconds. which is something that completely voids the purpose of a security system, which might take 90 seconds to dial out, and about 8 minutes for the cops to show up. The best defensive things you can do would be to not let them find an easy way in, don't give them a reason and don't let them get away easily. Bars on the windows, a strong door and good locks are important. Don't leave tools out where they can see them. As far as secuity systems, you could spend more on a good one than you do all of your tools. There aren't many, if any, companies out there that will install a good one for you, they are all fly by night deals. if you do pay someone to put one in, do your homework before you contact them. figure out what is best, before they try to sell you something. if anyone has any questions about this, feel free to PM me. Most seruirty system stuff is only available to dealers, but I still have my accounts at my suppliers, i'll sell to hambers at cost, if you want to try something yourself. David
<font color="red">First thing to do is start thinking like a thief. Lock your garage and then after it is all secure can you get in? If you can, so can someone after your stuff. </font>
aswell as your house.... i sure wouldnt want to loose any of the stuff i have in my house either... darn i have to make my house better zombie proof, you never know when... ahwell there is always a way in, but lets make sure the effort isn't worth the "loot", if you have windows make sure you have steel bars covering them etc etc i urge everyone to think like a theif regarding all their property to search weak points
It's not that you have to think like a thief here, more like you have to think like a crack head. It seems they are oblivious to everything and will try to steal stuff while you are right there. It doesn't help the neighbor seems to be dealing. Best to keep it out of sight. I put locks on the backyard gates and a motion light on the shop after the last report on the HAMB.
I just live in a place where people don't **** with other people's ****, 'cuz they know that those people will kill them and burn their bodies to heat their house. STEAL HERE... DIE HERE!!! JOE
When the door or window is entered an Eastwood voice says, "Do you feel lucky, Punk? Well, do ya? Go ahead, Make my day"
Fo do it your self alarm stuff, try www.surpluscenter.com There is two pages of stuff in their catalog. Also maby acouple of signs like- If you can read this,I can tag you from the house!
Reviewing what's already been said here.. Another thing that you might want to do. For those of you that have "radio controlled" door operators. Install a simple power switch (with an indicator lamp to remind you the power is on) located beside the door you usually exit by. That allows you to "kill" the power (the 120 VAC power) to the operator as you leave. At a Block Watch meeting the other night, our zone police officer pointed out that 30 (the police estimated) garage break ins had been done (in our area) by using a simple transmitter (available at almost any electronics store) that the thieves would use while slowly driving down back alleys. They would transmit a signal (moving up and down the frequencies reserved for door operators) until a door would start to open. They would take a quick look inside to see if there was anything they might be able to pawn, grab the stuff (tools the most often stolen) and be gone in seconds!
How 'bout keeping a cage full of rabid squirrels? Let 'em out on the shop at night. Toss peanuts all over outside, so a would-be thief walks through them and gets the smell all over him...
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