Guide to Shed Security

This guide to shed security will provide some useful hints and ideas, helping you to make sure your shed is as burglar-proof as possible. Follow these steps to deter virtually all opportunistic thieves.

The garden shed has come a long way. What was once a repository for various gardening bits and pieces, half-empty paint tins and bits of old carpet is now more likely to be a veritable treasure trove for the determined thief. A guide to shed security should be a valuable read for any shed owner.

Bikes, circular saws, work benches, golf clubs and chain saws. All are attractive targets for a thief. Some people keep even more valuable items in their shed. Even family heirlooms, wine collections, pricy hobby equipment may be found by the lucky burglar.

Because of this, we need to make sure our sheds are safe, secure and solid. A little time and money well-spent will encourage the potential burglar to bypass your garden (and possibly home) to move on for an easier target.

Structure

Moving on with this guide to shed security, we start with the door. Make sure that you have a suitable lock. Even if the lock is not the most secure, you can easily supplement it with one or two padlocks. Thieves don't like padlocks and are usually not willing to put the time in to breaking them (so long as they are of sufficiently sturdy design).

To make the door even more secure, consider fitting a security bar across the middle.

Consider the structure of the shed. Is it sturdy enough so that a thief can't simply prise off a side wall panel to get in?

Are the door hinges of a secure type? If not, hinge pins can be removed and the door easily taken off. Is the roof well secured and the bottom solidly connected to the floor? All of these are well-known weak points (to the average burglar).

Next windows, particularly if they are large enough to allow entry. Make sure the frame is solid (metal is better). If the window is glass can be shattered, consider replacing with polycarbonate or fitting a metal window grill.

Alarms

Once you are happy with the door, windows and general solidity of the shed, the next point to consider is fitting an alarm. Any guide to shed security needs to detail the many options available.

Alarms come in several types and at various price points. However, £50 - £100 will suffice for a perfectly serviceable system that will greatly add to the security of the shed. Simple systems can include a CCTV camera system which provides surveillance of the shed, including night vision. It can be activated using a motion detector.

Other alarm types will be based on an audible or silent alarm and can be activated by infrared or by contacts attached to door (and window).

Finally, you can always add to security of you shed by keeping a guard dog. Even a dangerous dog sign may help deter a casual thief.

It is hoped that this guide to shed security will people keep their garden shed safe, secure and away from unwanted attention.