7 Garden Shed Security Tips to Secure your Valuables
The UK has millions of garden sheds, which implies millions of opportunity for burglars to strike.
Summer is peak time for shed raids, so now is the time to think about whether yours is secure enough.
Here are some effective shed safety solutions…
How to Secure Your Shed
Because your shed is separate from your main house and may hold expensive objects, it could be a prime target for opportunist burglars.
However, there are steps you can take to make your shed safer, such as where you place it in your garden, what type of locks you use, and how you store your stuff inside.
#1. Locate your shed away from plain view
The location of your shed is just as important as the other security measures you take to secure it.
Make your shed difficult to see from the outside of your property; if an intruder is unsure whether you even have one, they are more likely to leave.
Trees, shrubs, and trellis can help hide your shed by adding height and limiting the view into the garden from outside.
Consider painting your shed to match the leaves in your garden at night.
#2. Hide whatever is within your shed
A lot of criminals might look into entire areas for a simple break-in chance, inspecting wooden sheds up close.
So try to keep what’s inside your shed hidden from view.
If your shed has windows, try covering them with curtains or privacy screens.
If your shed doesn’t need windows, consider sealing them up or acquiring a new, windowless shed.
Consider putting power equipment in secured cabinets within your shed.
That means that even if a burglar gets access, they’ll have to work considerably harder to get away with what’s inside.
#3. Add a shed security bar
A security bar is one of the most effective ways to secure your garden shed and protect your valuables inside.
Shed security bars are composed of metal and cover the entire width of your shed door, with locks on either side.
When properly installed on a completely constructed shed door, most burglars will not even attempt to break in.
#4. Install shed security hinges properly
Shed security hinges are another excellent technique to make your shed more secure, but only if they are properly installed.
Hinges installed in sheds often offer only a basic level of protection, so consider upgrading if you want to make your shed more safe.
Opt for shed security hinges that:
- Has a ‘hidden’ hinge pin that cannot be removed.
- Have a high metal gauge, so they can’t be bent.
- Come with ‘one-way’ security screws.
If you are concerned about the security of your hinges, you can replace any screws with through bolts and secure them to the inside of the shed door frame with a nut and washer.
#5. Install a security light
If there is one thing burglars dislike, it is light.
All of them will work under cover of darkness, therefore a security light with motion detection attached to your shed can be an excellent deterrent.
Consider where you install your security light, as animals can occasionally trigger the motion detection, and make sure the light is not shining into neighbouring houses.
#6. Install a security camera
Security camera technology has advanced significantly, and there are some excellent security system solutions for strengthening up your shed security.
A motion-detection camera can send video directly to your tablet or smartphone, and some even have speakers so you can warn burglars.
If you’re away on holiday, a security camera that connects to your smartphone can also help you keep an eye on your shed and property.
#7. Secure your belongings
If your shed has a concrete foundation, you might want to consider securing expensive items to the ground.
Expensive items like bikes and lawn mowers are always on a shed thief’s wish list, but by securing them to the shed’s base, you practically guarantee they won’t be stolen.
The initial construction of your shed and base is the best time to create an anchor point.
You must:
- Put your anchor point into the base of the concrete and let it set.
- For an anchor point to stick out, make a small hole in the floor of your shed.
- Connect chains to the anchor point and wrap them around the things you want to keep safe.
- Connect the chains using a high-quality padlock.
If your shed is already in place, try connecting all of your bikes and mowers with robust chains and a high-quality padlock.
This will make it as difficult as possible for a burglar to escape with your most expensive belongings.
How to secure the shed door
To make your shed door more safe, you can take numerous methods, such as:
- Using door hinges made of thick metal gauge.
- Using a padlock with a ‘closed’ shackle that exposes as little of the lock hoop as possible.
- Install a security bar and secure it with flat-head coach bolts.
- Attach hinges and security locks to strong wooden frames and secure with coach bolts.
Which lock is ideal for a garden shed?
A ‘closed’ shackle padlock is the ideal lock for protecting a shed.
Closed shackle locks expose only small part of the loop, making it unlikely that a burglar can cut it with bolt cutters or an angle grinder.
Make your shed more secure today
Follow these handy tips to secure your garden shed and its contents today to provide you with the peace of mind you desire.
