Dunno why, but this time of the year I get paranoid each night there will be a garage break in and I will loose some prize possessions. It has happened three time before with a considerable financial loss on each occasion. My existing approach is via mutiple layers of security, outside ligthing, alarms, locks, chains etc but I am always on the lookout for new ideas or products.
So I am wondering if anyone else has ideas on how
to make a garage more secure
products which might be inexpensive but add more layers of security
general tips and advice
basically anything which can help reduce the risk and deter thiefs!
Thanks in advance
You answered your own question with your existing approach. Reduce your attractiveness, Don't buy and sell more bicycle items than chain reaction? No?
I love those arms that you arm with a blank shotgun cartridge......it would frighten the living shite out the unsuspecting burglar.
😀Don't buy and sell more bicycle items than chain reaction
Keep the bikes inside. If it's happened 3 times you'll be on the scumbag radar for sure so it'll happen again.
I have a garage defender fitted to outside although I do reverse my van up to the door also overnight,a small alarm that scans the inside, gives me a little time to get outside if the corner of the door is prised open, my main bike is anchored to the floor with the cheap road bike up as a sacrifice.
These are good:
http://www.asec.co.uk/asec-garage-door-bolt-locking-kit-en-gb/
I would recommend fitting them to a good galvanised steel door rather than a more modern lightweight one.
Someone had the good idea of a gorilla bin full of concrete to fix your bikes to if you can't fix a floor anchor. If you have a house alarm you may be able to get it extended to the garage?
I'll dive right in with the default internet smartass suggestion - move somewhere less pikey ? Sounds like it really would be cheaper in the long run !
Keep them ideas coming please.
Last breakin I found out who it was as he tried selling my gear on ebay, and yes the police know him, and unless you can prove categorically its yours they dont do much for recovery but usually lift them for something else.
And yes its the fear they will come back because they know what I have.
Another on for the asec bolts pretty solid. Fit 4 they'll have to make hell of noise at least to break the door.
5 level Dead lock on the side door. Ground anchor also handy. If they want in they'll get in but if yours is harder than the neighbours they'll look elsewhere
Keep a record of the frame serial nos as well. (If a bike goes). Also micro marking/smart water stuff. (Not that I'm paranoid!)
Another cheap option steel plate fitted over lock keeps bolted to the frame from the inside. Makes it harder to break the lock.
Is your garage door on the house alarm, put it in its own zone and set the zone to chime when in day mode and instant alarm when in set mode.
One step further is to have the house alarm text you if it goes off.
I have a system I designed which uses a Raspberry Pi to text me.
Use a metal garage door and wire it up to the mains.
Has an alarm already with pirs install and siren box on front and rear of garage, has 5 lever locks, what I was hoping for was some form of wire rope with eyelets on the end so I can attach to a ground anchor, its has to be long as I have about 15 bikes need securing.
And yes last time they broke in by removing the roof tiles off the roof as its impossible to attack the doors for entry from the outside, but once inside easy to open the door.
Brick up garage with access from inside only and sort out the roof with concrete or something they can't cut through. Turn into a bike workshop / utility room / office with bike storage 😀
... and keep car on drive. Modern cars aren't bothered about being kept outside these days. Chances are you don't have the space for a car in the garage anyway 😉
Or, just move valuables inside. Stick a note on the garage saying you've had to sell everything due to insurance costs.
And a big dog with a loud bark and pointy teeth.
This bad boy...If it's a proper pikey area forget the blanks and put a buckshot round in...
[url= http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2964 ]mine![/url]
Could you reply to my email about the forks I bought from you bhill22 Cheers
Russ
I've got those wire rope thingies, about 15mm thick, 5m long.
[url= http://m.screwfix.com/p/master-lock-steel-braided-looped-cable-3m-x-15mm/67593 ]Like this[/url]
I have several ground anchors they go through and closed shackle padlocks.
The "proper" approach to this is stages starting with:
Low-profile, although with previous thefts that's sadly blown your cover
Boundary fence and gates (don't know your layout, so you might have to make access difficult by parking a car, etc ^^)
Secure the building
Secure the prize. Wire rope can be cut comparatively easily, you could try threading a hardened chain from end to end (heavy) or a hardened bar that goes inside each of the main frame "triangles" without touching anything. A combination of the bar set just above the floor with connecting chains that are free to slide to give flexible positioning might be more practical for a fleet
Cameras IMHO are easily defeated, just pull your baseball cap down a bit, but PIRs on the building are a good idea. You could consider PIR lights on the boundary as well but this depends on how often they'll be triggered by passing people and not upsetting motorists and neighbours
You've been burgled three times?
I'd move.
Definitely wouldn't have my bikes in the garage.
No-one mentioning good quality insurance? It might be a pain in the rear to have to replace bikes, but at least if they are insured well you don't suffer all the pain.
but at least if they are insured well you don't suffer all the pain.
Except increasing premiums and potentially becoming uninsurable if it keeps happening (or at least they may say they won't cover the bikes or you have to pay a fortune to cover them).
The main thing is that your alarm is going off while they are in your garage, and that you know, and your neighbours will react. This will limit the time they have to cut chains etc.
My little system that texts me, also can make sounds (intruder detected, dog bark etc) when the alarm is triggered or when it sees motion.
I've thought about getting it to play Barry Manilow show tunes but that could be considered cruel and unusual punishment.
Insurance - large bill, caveats, restrictions etc been there already hence the worry
Wire rope/chain and ground anchor - this is something I will add its another layer for any thief to overcome
Alarm - I have one but I am going to install a second alarm as well (belts and braces)
Cameras - I am considering I will look at the one's above any idea on this will be appreciated, where to buy from, tips etc
We had a few break ins round our area recently,despite it being a nice area. I investef in ground anchors, motorbike chains and disc lock alarms. Still parra though so long term is to convert the garage to a room with a secure front door like the rest of the house. Just making it obviously hard for people seems to work a lot...
Add a secondary alarm sounder inside the garage so if your alarm trips then the garage becomes very noisy and unpleasant to remain in.
Can anyone buy the blanks for those alarm mines? Or are they restricted like (I assume) live cartridges?
Most CCTV will do audio as well as video, which may be more useful.
Call me cynical but a classified only user, specialising in bike parts, asking about your security measures...
You're cynical.
He's been on here 4 years! 😆
Is a motorized door more secure?
This stuff can forensically link your stuff to the scrote that has stolen it.
http://www.smar****er.com/property-marking
Some local police forces issue free kits in high crime areas
I use a baby alarm tucked away in a corner of the garage.
Other half is next to my bed.
They do need to be fairly close to each other to work.
It gives no warning and they had better not make any noise, which is impossible in my garage as they are bound to trip over something!
Cheap and works.
Alarmed padlocks on bikes are cheap and loud. I use several layers of protection which i am sure they could defeat but its going to be very loud to do and take some time to get through each barrier plus there aint a great deal of room to do this in. Once they get through all of that they then realise i have shit bikes and being 26ers they will never make there ride home come alive! 😀
My garage got broken into through the window and then the roof. It sucks but you need to secure more than the door as they go for the weakest element.
Bricking up the up and over door and fitting a good steel security door is an option.
Daisy chain the bikes to each other.
Smart water
Cage.
A local fabricator could knock up something that will need a gas torch and hours to get through.
I've seen a design for a simple modular cage (essentially a flat pack) that can only be assembled or disassembled from the inside. Once you've got a couple of monster padlocks in the hooded locks, no one's getting in without proper powertools and a good hour or so of peace and quiet.
last time they broke in by removing the roof tiles off the roof as its impossible to attack the doors for entry from the outside
That to me suggests you are now a known target, that they judge the risk of being seen clambering about on the garage roof worth the reward of posh bikes inside...
Other than the garage contents, how outwardly visible is your cycling habbit? Carriers left on cars? Stickers? Kit on show anywhere? Regularly ride past scummy areas on the way to/from home?
As a physical prevention could you fix sheet steel or bars to the rafters under the roof? Eventually gaining access becomes too difficult and they'll give up, multiple PIRs is a good call too, if you illuminate the buggers they're really not going to be keen on hanging around...
How about some of that anti theft paint on the drain pipes, around the side of the roof etc. Tar like stuff that doesn't dry, would make a right mess of anyone trying to clamber up.
Might even be able to mix in some ground up glass to make it even more of an obstacle.
I've gone for the various levels of security plus one of those oxford disk alarms. At the end of the day though it's only possible to do so much. I just aim to make it as awkward as possible.
Another tip if you have an up and over garage door is to fix carpet gripper underneath.