The Ultimate Guide To Securing Your Garden Shed

Many people assume that their storage shed does not need the same security as their home. For them, it’s merely a space to store tools, delivery boxes, or any other extra equipment that’s not in use anymore. A thief will use this opportunity to break into your shed and steal valuable items such as your lawnmower, power tools, or bikes. Even if you don’t keep any expensive stuff inside your storage shed, a robber might use the tools inside your garage to open your front door and enter your house.

Regardless of your shed’s position with respect to your home, it’s time for you to actively think about how to secure your garden shed. With so much risk involved, you need to install a security system because it’s an easy target for robbers and vandals.

Read this article to find out more about some of your storage sheds weaknesses and what you can do to prevent break-in attempts.

Common Shed Security Vulnerabilities

• Structural weaknesses

• Locks

• Window AC units

• Hinges

• Unsupervised access

• Windows

• Lighting

5 Most Commonly Stolen Items From A Shed

• Bikes

• Mowers

• Sports equipment

• Power tools

• Garden tools

Check For Structural Weaknesses

Garden sheds are a prime target for thieves because of two main reasons: they are usually not secured and contain various high-payout items. Poorly maintained sheds with prominent rotten wood patches, loose boards, and rusty metal surfaces provide little defense against robbers. To prevent any loss of property due to a break-in, take some time out to do a thorough inspection of your shed. Identify potential weak points or damages to the exterior surface.

To eliminate the risk of theft, invest money into installing some tamper-proof screws and ensure that your door is always locked. Prevent newer sheds from potential damage by ensuring regular maintenance. However, if your shed is beyond repair in certain places, make a few temporary patches to protect your tools and other items.

Anchor Your Storage Shed

Storage and garden sheds are typically portable and come in various sizes. So if your shed is in the smaller range, it is very easy for a thief to lift it from below and steal your valuable items. You need to anchor your shed to the ground to prevent and eliminate the likelihood of these incidents occurring. You can use angle brackets (L brackets), rawl plugs, and screws or place breeze blocks inside your shed so it cannot be lifted due to increased weight. Another way to prevent it from being lifted is to attach it to a boundary wall - this will minimize the chance of it being blown away on a windy day.

Install Security Lighting

Most sheds are placed in a far corner of a yard that devoids proper lighting. This increases the chances of thieves being able to break into your shed unnoticed. Poorly lit sheds and lawns make it easier for intruders to get in undetected. Therefore, it is a good idea to invest in some security lights that can cover you properly such that the shed is properly illuminated.

You can also install motion detector lights or passive IR-activated security lights so that they can deter thieves from entering your property. If you do not have an outlet near your shed’s location, you can buy a solar system. Be careful about the placement of your lights so as not to disturb your neighbors or cause any inconveniences.

Install Alarms And Cameras

Even with the above safety precautions in place, a smart thief with the right tools can still break into your garage. Investing in a battery-operated alarm to detect when someone is near a door or window opening is a great way to scare off an intruder. You can also place a motion detection sensor in different corners of your shed and a door sensor as well so that when an intruder tries to enter your garage, a siren will go off immediately and alert you.

Another useful tip is to install a security camera or infrared (IR) beam to monitor your property. If it is above your budget, you can buy a dummy camera as well. A camera that detects motion will automatically send a live feed to your cell phone in the case that its sensor is activated. Motion detection IR beams are covert in nature so you can hide them in plain sight well - you will receive a text alert on your mobile phone if the beam is broken.

Conclusion

If your cabin or shed contains valuable items, then make sure you allow access to only family members and relatives. Otherwise, the safety of your shed can be easily compromised and any unauthorized person can unlock your door or windows to get inside. By using and having a proper access control system you can successfully lower the risk of any intruder breaking into your shed. Therefore, ensure that you have good-quality locks installed on your door and windows. In addition to this, you can try these bonus security tips to further secure your garden shed: cover all windows with metal bars, optimize the security of your yard, keep a serialized inventory of all items, secure all ladders on your property, lock your shed properly after exiting and check your home insurance coverage in case of any unfortunate events. The important thing to remember here is that when it comes to your garden or storage shed’s security, robbers like their targets to be quick and easy. So if you make it harder for an intruder to break in, steal your stuff, and get out undetected, the chances of them targeting your property will significantly decrease.

About Stahl Storage Stahl Storage offers a wide range of portable storage options to its clients in Alberta. These premium storage options include modular buildings, cabins, storage sheds, garden sheds, portable workshops, offices, and more. If you have any further queries about our services, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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