Electronic cabinet lock for metal storage cabinet & general security

[switchgear12470]

This is my first post! Excited to join the garage gang.

I'm about to move from a suburban house with an attached garage to an urban house with a detached garage. As with any urban area, burglary and break-ins are a concern. It's not a crime infested area, but it's a more dense area which results in both more criminals and more opportunities for them.

My garage will be locked and included in an eventual home security envelope with cameras and motion sensors. It does have two windows which I am soliciting advice on how to secure. My thoughts are window bars, and to always close the blinds when I'm not there (to prevent people from scoping out the inside).

I'd like to go a step further with securing my power tools and batteries. I have several thousand dollars worth and they are easy to run off with. I'm looking at getting something like a Gladiator cabinet, but I'd really not like to have to carry a key around to open it. I've been keyless for 5 years at this point. Has anyone installed an electronic keypad lock on a metal storage cabinet before, and if so, do you have any recommendations or tips?

 

[WildBill]

Welcome!

This is not remotely helpful but you are going to lock them in a cabinet, in your locked garage, with lights and cameras, and bars on the windows? I would move somewhere else if all that was needed.

But - We use something like this on metal cabinets at work, the problem is its generally easy to pry cabinet doors open so you would probably need a bar that goes across the front with a lock on it to really stop anybody. You could maybe put an alarm on it to scare people off instead.

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[CraigStu]

Maybe consider one of the less expensive gun safes? I think even a cheapie will be more stout than a typical cabinet.

 

[tom in nh]

Stick a big ugly dog in there...

 

[Skyman]

If the goal is simply to not have to carry a key around, consider stashing the key in a well-hidden location within the garage.

Another thought would be, if those tools are seldom used, keep them in the house when they're sitting unused.

 

[rlitman]

If a prybar will open it in under a second, then locking something in a cabinet indoors to stop a presumed thief who's ALREADY broken in just doesn't sit well with me. Most locking cabinets aren't suitable for security beyond making something child-safe, or for securing something in perhaps an office with good camera coverage. The cheap gun safe idea buys more than a few seconds (not minutes), and MAYBE that's enough, if you're in a city with a reasonably fast police response and have a working alarm.

I'd start on the perimeter. Make sure the door can't easily be kicked in. Privacy film the windows. I wouldn't add bars if they look out of place for the neighborhood. You don't want to make it look like you're securing Fort Knox. Instead, bolt a sheet of 1/4" lexan over the inside, and if one day you replace the siding, consider deleting the windows then.

Consider parking a Chameleon XLE out front.