Advice on Adding Security to Detached Garage

[drelldrell]

Hello all,
I am looking for advice on how to reasonably secure my garage from break-ins. I have a two car detached garage that I just “re-habbed” and added several upgrades. I would like to keep my miter saw, table saw and other items of value stored in the garage.

I live in relatively safe and low crime area of Chicago. However, break-ins are common even in the moderate to nice suburbs. Unfortunately, that’s life these days – crime seeks you out. I like redundancy in most things and have some already in the garage such as:

• Small window
• Steel door, will be adding hardware to reduce potential for kick in or deadbolt breaks
• Garage door senor linked to home alarm, and triggers certain indoor lights at night
• Watchful neighbors
Higher value items have chain linked/padlocked to rather beefy lag screw eyebolts
• Signs reminding knuckleheads of my 80 pounds and growing Italian Mastiff (see pick for to get a sense of her inviting personality!)
• Externally vanilla looking garage, nothing special

I thought about adding the Lift Master 8500 due to the automated power deadbolt feature. I really don’t need a new garage door opener, but I really like the automatic deadbolt feature. Afraid that if I add a manual lock to the garage door that either my wife or I will forget to unlock it before we hit the automatic garage door opener.

I am not too worried about someone using a coat hanger to release the emergency pull - it is located about 2 1/2 back form the door. Seems like it would be challenging to defeat. But, you never know.

Any additional advice is appreciated.

 

[Catadj78]

I'd move.. ha

Cameras??

 

[Cypherian]

12 volt car alarm system hooked to battery that is on trickle charge, motion and door switches set off klaxon, lights on garage peak and a game camera work fine of you put 2 batteries you can stack up enough klaxon to make the sound painful.

 

[drelldrell]

Cameras are an idea. Not nearly bad enough to prompt a move. Neighbor is a mechanic with at least $20,000 in equipment and tools. No break-ins in the 12 years he has lived there. I just moved in about 1 1/2 years ago. Just being cautious. Never know what can happen.

 

[theoldwizard1]

• Small window

Add a steel bar on the inside so that they won't even THINK about crawling through it

• Steel door, will be adding hardware to reduce potential for kick in or deadbolt breaks

ALL residential doors ****. Either add a heavy security gate over the top of the door or buy a commercial steel door WITH a steel frame.

• Garage door senor linked to home alarm, and triggers certain indoor lights at night

Motion detector lights on all side of the garage.

 

[Kaizen]

if I were robbing you I'd park in front of the garage door and back into it. doors cave and break easy.
I'd have ten minutes so make sure you lock your tools every night and don't leave expensive stuff that can be carried away.
black out the windows.

cameras are a good theft deterrent as well as will allow you to see if anyone is scoping it out when you are not there.
put up a pic if you want more ideas. keeping it not rich looking is good but like most you probably open the garage doors when working so anyone driving by will know who has the good stuff

 

[purplezr2]

Interesting problem, will say I love living in a place were I never lock my door and the keys never leave the ignition of my car.

 

[bczygan]

Interesting problem, will say I love living in a place were I never lock my door and the keys never leave the ignition of my car.

Where exactly......?

 

[mmb617]

Where exactly......?

What, so you can go rob him?

 

[bczygan]

Layers.

Alarm
Hide
Camouflage
Physically bar
Restrain
Misdirect
Record
Respond
Track

Alarms and sirens and flashing lights. Connected to people who can and will respond immediately.

Different alarms and responses at different points of access and rings of security.

Provide lots of quality recording devices beginning at outermost defense perimeters.

Physically bar persons from entry with increasingly difficult to defeat methods.

Consider restraining invaders from leaving at innermost location.

Hide valuable items with camouflage or placing in unexpected places. Hide in plain sight. Build false and movable walls or floors or ceilings or panels or boxes or vaults.

Misdirect by leaving inexpensive things out to steal, while hiding expensive versions.

Track by putting tracking devices in easily steal-able items.

Some security should be hidden and some visible. Enough visible, so they go down the street, But not so much that they think there's a goldmine there. Enough hidden, so if they try, they don't quickly succeed.

Etc.

 

[zkdiesel]

Someway of letting them know, that you they are inside is crucial(shop dog, shop alarm system, motion detector lights inside)
No matter how secure you make a regular garage any their can get into in minutes, you need to get there attention once there In so they choose to leave or only have a few minutes, not an hour to Rob the place blind

 

[drelldrell]

Add a steel bar on theinside so thaht they won't even THINK about crawling through it

ALL residential doors ****. Either add a heavy security gate over the top of the door or buy a commercial steel door WITH a steel frame.

Motion detector lights on all side of the garage.

Forgot to mention I do have motion sensor lighting on side (near the entry door) and back (facing the yard). Both are primarily for lighting up the yard at night, but they also light up the garage quite well. Will add a motion detection in place of the existing switch for the indoor lights.

Like the idea of the steel door and bar on window.

I also have a six foot fence that has to be jumped to access the side door garage entrance. Just another hurdle to overcome.

 

[crewchief888]

a few things i do

if the overhead door is open, a vehicle is always blocking a direct view from the street.

both my windows face the back of the garage, one is blocked by a large set toolboxes, the other is partially covered, so no one can see inside.

i can see both doors from the house

large german sheperd

only 3 people (besides the wife and kids) have ever set foot in my garage.

valuble "stuff" isnt in plain sight

inside of the garage is dark, only enough light for general lighting, even at night it's hard to see much of anything.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I think your list sounds pretty good, you've taken care of most issues and you should be able to sleep easy at night. Of course, if someone really wants to break in they can show up with a bulldozer, but you also have to be realistic. In most cases, if your place is difficult to break into, the criminals are going to try somewhere else.

As for living where you think you can leave things unlocked and with the keys in the car...it's false security, crime can happen anywhere.

 

[gnpenning]

Break ins increase as weather warms. Hook some sprinklers to motion sensors. Make sure they have a constant spray at your entrance pionts. Higher the pressure the better.

 

[Garage Dog]

I thought about telling you to put a sign on the door with a pic of your pup "a very protective 120lb Italian Mastiff sleeps in here - you really don't want to meet him".

But seriously it does sound like you have take far more precautions than the average person and that will deter many.

Having dogs, I always thought a good deterrent would be a good size dog chain (think 3/8") bolted to the garage skirt with a water bowl near by.

You can't stop everyone so think deterrent - many folks are afraid of dogs, use that to your advantage if you can.

Good Luck

 

[Stan1966]

Exterior Lights...exterior lights....exterior lights.

I have over $150k worth of Harleys + parts in my sheds. I also have 16 dusk to dawn lights that have been on for 30 years. A fully fenced backyard that has only one entrance. Motion sensors in the sheds that sound 1)an alarm to wake me up 2)5 mins later, 2 large klaxons that wake the neighborhood up. Half of the 16 lights are dual light levels; motion within 20 feet clicks them up to HIGH.
Open garage doors are not visible from the street. A 90 year old widow neighbor that knows every breathing creature for 4 blocks and loves to peep out her windows and has 911 on speed dial. CCW permit and a few large caliber heavies.

Reputation as "that crazy ol' biker down the street".

Been here since 1981....never had a break-in or even a lightweight problem.

Oh...I almost forgot...cameras that I can access from anywhere with my smartphone (some inside the sheds, some inside and outside the house).

Am I paranoid? Naww...just careful. I know guys that can "liberate" a full dress Harley in less than 2 minutes. And they know I know them.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

How about a sign" I have a pistol, a rifle and a backhoe. Enter here and your kin will always wonder where you went."





JBP


.

 

[frank_c]

What about an outswing man door?

 

[Alain V.]

My city code only allows a max height on fences,,,,,,but I think once my shop is finished, I will install a strip of carpet "tack strip" around the inner perimeter of my privacy fence about 1 inch from the top edge. Also may dig an extra 2 or 3 foot deep trench around the inside perimeter of my fence area,,,,,prefebly lined with very sharp cactus of other sharp plantlife.
That should get the attention of any crack head that thinks he's gonna climb the fence. Also a commercial steel shop door. Cameras, etc will also be on my list.

 

[Pardigital]

I'd suggest a strobe light tied into the alarm system and placed outside the garage. Too often an alarm will sound in the neighborhood and no one knows where it's coming from. A strobe light will draw the eye. Also, place small decals on the windows that read "Smile for the Cameras". Some UV powder placed in strategic places for the bad guy to make contact and carry away on his skin or clothing. A radio left playing inside at all times when you're away. Reflective window tint.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Exterior Lights...exterior lights....exterior lights.

I also have 16 dusk to dawn lights that have been on for 30 years.

With the cost to install and operate LED lights, dusk to dawn lighting on all sides is a good idea. They don't have to "flood" the area, just light the area within 5-10 of the side of the garage.

 

[rippered]

Hmm...

 

[Dajn]

Hmm...

What do you want?

 

[Kaizen]

What do you want?

Any of these other guys on here giving security advice know just like me that in order to secure something you need to know how a thief will break in. The op wants to know how it will happen. That is how a crackhead that wants a couple hundred bucks in tools would do it.

 

[rlitman]

For you to stop being dumb.

Any of these other guys on here giving security advice know just like me that in order to secure something you need to know how a thief will break in. The op wants to know how it will happen. That is how a crackhead that wants a couple hundred bucks in tools would do it. And seriously you think if I was a thief I'd be so bad that I would need to peruse forums about garages to learn how to do it?? If what I said scares you I can honestly say I wish I was in your world because in the real world where I live you'd be terrified.

Now delete your slanderous post

I'm with you. The problem is that if someone want's in, they'll find a way.
My goal is to make the target look less juicy and more difficult/annoying, so they hit the neighbors first. Also, close any obvious issues that would allow someone in without a trace. I absolutely want visible signs of forced entry so I can make an insurance claim if needs be.

You know the one about two guys being chased by a bear in the woods.
Hold on a sec, let me tie my shoelaces...

 

[Kaizen]

I'm with you. The problem is that if someone want's in, they'll find a way.
My goal is to make the target look less juicy and more difficult, so they hit the neighbors first.

You know the one about two guys being chased by a bear in the woods.
Hold on a sec, let me tie my shoelaces...

yup with you on that one. sounds like you have a good defense. my goal is to make my house look just hard enough for the amateurs to move on.

 

[Steve from Socal]

As mentioned security is a consideration but, I just went through a similar stock taking. In the end I did add security devices but view them as historical records of an "event" .

The area I focus a lot of attention on was hardening my shop to anyone that did enter. All my roll up doors have shielded locks on them now, it is a pain in the ***! All my tools and supplies are in locked cabinets, I ordered matching cylinders for everything possible. I have one key for cabinets, one for padlocks and one for vehicles. I bought 20 padlocks off ebay keyed alike, they lock all the roll up doors and Vidmar cabinets with locking bars. I used to leave the keys in my fork lifts and scissor lift, re-keyed alike and not left in sight.

My shop has 3 man doors all but one are now padlocked and, the one that isn't gets a forklift parked close enough to barely allow me to get through. Nobody is going to roll any of my cabinets out a door with this set up. Yes it IS a pain in the *** and I suppose a guy with bolt cutters could cut a pad lock. To use a bolt cutter they would have to deal with shields on or around the lock. I leave no hand or power tools out and there are no prybars or levers in sight either.

Somebody who was determined and had equipment could end run this but, the average tweaker looking for some easy stuff to pawn would be hard pressed to score here. I do have some inexpensive hand tools I leave out at machines along with a dead HF drill as fodder.

Out of sight out of mind, what a thief doesn't see he wont bother with unless he has prior knowledge. I DONT welcome stranger into my shop and keep a very low profile. I had a contract labor worker take inspection tools and a winch a few years ago, that was the last urchin to enter my shop!

Steve

I am

 

[redsand187]

Replace paintball gun with real gun, first half of the magazine being loaded with "less lethal" ammo. Last half being the full monty.

 

[drelldrell]

Last post was nice! Thanks for the advice. Going to make some tweaks to what I have in place already.

 

[Dajn]

For you to stop being dumb.

Any of these other guys on here giving security advice know just like me that in order to secure something you need to know how a thief will break in. The op wants to know how it will happen. That is how a crackhead that wants a couple hundred bucks in tools would do it. And seriously you think if I was a thief I'd be so bad that I would need to peruse forums about garages to learn how to do it?? If what I said scares you I can honestly say I wish I was in your world because in the real world where I live you'd be terrified.

Now delete your slanderous post

It doesn't scare me in the least. I have measures in place to protect my property. Why would people talk about it on the internet? You really think predators and thieves don't use the Internet to help them? Sorry that I mistook you for a thief. It happens. As I made clear, thieves are some of the lowest lifeforms on the planet. I wish they would all die.

 

[RedRabbit]

I would tint all windows, add steel bars welded across all the windows. A full steel door with frame, and an alarm system that is connected to a very loud siren and bright lights. I am a bit protective since my house was robbed a couple years ago, security is a big issue for me.

 

[Mike98036]

Simplisafe.

I decided to install a home security system after a couple years of building race cars and buying all the tools that entails. Got a little paranoid about all the passersby on the weekends gawking at what we were doing. You get monitoring for as little as $15 per month, or you can pay zero and have it as a deterrent. I pay around $25 per month and can access the system, turn it off/on etc with my cellphone. No commitment, no wires; you install yourself. So far, I'm very happy.

 

[Kaizen]

It doesn't scare me in the least. I have measures in place to protect my property. Why would people talk about it on the internet? You really think predators and thieves don't use the Internet to help them? Sorry that I mistook you for a thief. It happens. As I made clear, thieves are some of the lowest lifeforms on the planet. I wish they would all die.

Thank you and agreed.

 

[chruler]

Hook up an inexpensive alarm system that makes a lot of noise but isn't hooked up to the police station or alarm company. You end up paying for a service that yields no benefits. The thugs come in, know they have a few minutes to loot the place before the cops arrive and the cops never catch them. You end up paying for disappointment. Let the creeps just think it's hooked up to the alarm company.

 

[drelldrell]

Coincidentally, my home alarm stopped working yesterday and today my main processing unit/control both was replaced. I asked the repair tech about integrating my garage man door to the system. I already have a garage overhead door sensor integrated into the system simply as a notification device, i.e. a text message every time it opens or closes.

The repair tech added a door sensor to the man door and said it would not be integrated into the alarm system; it would act just like the overhead door sensor with text or email notifications. Well, after coming home this evening I realized the man door sensor is indeed integrated in the alarm and set off the alarm as soon as I open it after retiring home for a quick run to the store.

Very good! And I didn't pay for the man door sensor.

Thought I would pass this along in case others are looking for direct integration with their home alarm for a detached garage. Works for me.

 

[unslow1]

I thought about integration but a friend that installs recommended against it. You really can't tell from inside a car whether the alarm turned off when you hit the remote. I would probably be constantly setting it off. He ended up taking the old one from the house and putting it as a stand alone in garage. Then put a new one in the house. It is set to chime anytime a door is opened. That makes it obvious the garage has an alarm. That way I can set it anytime I wish. The garage is set up without an automatic call. Tripping it just sets off basic siren. It lets me set it when I will be away for a few days.

 

[RobSmith]

My very sensitive motion detector in the garage is wirelessly connected to my house alarm system..the sensor in the garage is also connected to a small relay that holds the power off as long as the door courtesy light is lit. That gives me just enough time to get out of range and into the house to disarm the system. Occasionally I open the garage and forget to disarm the system....that proves the system is still working.

 

[gte718p]

I'm with you. The problem is that if someone want's in, they'll find a way.
My goal is to make the target look less juicy and more difficult/annoying, so they hit the neighbors first. Also, close any obvious issues that would allow someone in without a trace. I absolutely want visible signs of forced entry so I can make an insurance claim if needs be.

You know the one about two guys being chased by a bear in the woods.
Hold on a sec, let me tie my shoelaces...

This thread comes up often. The search function is your friend.

I'll again point out the most important layer is the insurance. If I want what you have bad enough I'm going to get it. Yuo have to be vigalent 24/7/365 a thief only has to get lucky once. The last inventory I did of my garage, realizing the replacement cost of a collection build over 20 years was shocking. It was well into six figures. I highly doubt anyone is going to walk off with my mill, but on the other hand you never know. I have extremely good insurance with USAA, but they capped loses for tools at 5k. That would be painful. Adding a rider to cover replacement value of everything costs me $50 a year.

I have had tools stolen when I forgot to close the garage door. Entirely my fault. A lot of the newer alarms can be set to close the garage door when the alarm is set or remotely. I think that is an important feature, especially if you don't have good line of sight on the door.

 

[DonPowers]

I'm reposting what I said in a couple previous security threads.

Like others have said, you are not going to stop a determined / experienced thief but you can make it easier for law enforcement to catch them.

On my garage, I put in a commercial steel entry door & frame with commercial grade lockset & deadbolt. Windows are 15 ft above grade and the overhead doors are insulated metal. If someone wants in, they can just ram the overhead doors. My cameras however, should catch the action.

Motion sensing lights make a good deterrent at night. Motion lights with built in camera are even better. A friend, who got robbed when away, after the incident, put up motion sensing lights with the built in cam. He found a few occasions, when checking the cards, of people setting off the light and running away. There are several brands out there, just go with the higher resolution cams.

I prefer the bird house or other covert type cameras. Reason is, a guy that I know who has a junk yard told me the culprits wear hoodies or ski mask and show up on cam but can't ID them. He has since removed all of his camera warning signs and has hidden his cams.

My neighbor is a retired State Trooper and told me they have a very good idea of who the local hooligans are. They just need enough evidence to tie them to the crime.

Set up a camera or two for photographing vehicles. A time stamped photo or video of someone in a hoodie may not be enough for probable cause but along with time stamped vehicle photos or video, they may have a better chance of bringing someone in for questioning. The more evidence the better.

We had a suspicious vehicle cruising the road last summer. Pulled clips of the vehicle from game cam and surveillance cam then neighbor distributed to State Police, Local Police & Sheriff. The vehicle had been reported before. With the photos, they were found and confronted by the Sheriff. They were from away and running scams in the area. Haven't seen them since.

Then you always have the big bad dog option.