Garage and Shop Security

[Tyberius]

An organized crew can take your entire garage in under two minutes. Faster than the police will come. It has happened to me. I had an alarm system and thieves broke down the people door and took every power tool and cased tool that was visible. They did not take air tools or loose tools or my roller or motorcycles (with the keys in) or bicycles (though they did take a fold-up bike that was in a bag - guess it fit in with their "case" rule). Since then, I reinforced the door and locked up the big tools with chains, to try to slow them down. And I don't leave the garage door open.

I've since moved from that house.

However, even with the above changes, if the thief wants your stuff, he will get your stuff. With the above, the thief can simply cut through the wall or just jack or cut through the garage door. And chains can be cut in a matter of seconds with a bolt cutter or portable saw with cutoff wheel.

 

[rbjenterprises]

Motion sensors on all 4 sides set to turn on all outside floods and door light..

 

[jeff000]

Motion sensors on all 4 sides set to turn on all outside floods and door light..

Good idea, make sure they don't trip or miss anything.

Prevent them from getting in first and foremost, once in then just make sure you have records of what you have that was stolen. And make sure you know what insurance will give you as reimbursement, replacement value is minus depreciation. You want replacement cost coverage so that you get what it actually costs to replace.

I have alarm and video. And live in an area that's never had house break ins. Can never really get out of smash and grab areas though, but remove the temptations.

 

[samsn4]

Has anyone made their own door latch/lock system? the doors on my shed are plywood reenforced by 1x2's, I'm thinking upgrade them to a 2x4 frame and create some sorta steel slide lock. Looking for ideas.

 

[PetesPonies]

I made nice carriage doors for the main entrance to my shop. I built them from engineered 2x4s ( the way to do it ). No warpage. I then have them locked with 2 slide bolts into the concrete floor and then a 2 x 4 across the doors from the inside, through handles made for this.

 

[samsn4]

Sorry forgot to mention that it is the only entrance.

 

[gmwilkes]

GSD Security Ltd.


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That ^. I'm planning to buy a GSD when the wife and I get our first house (hopefully soon!). Love those dogs.


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[gmwilkes]

Serial numbers are a big thing to have listed, it's how law enforcement track stolen items. Also, motion activated lights inside near doors can be beneficial especially using cameras with low night time visibility. Also for cameras you should hide and secure any type of DVR and definitely have a uninterrupted power supply (UPS) in case power is disconnected for whatever reason.


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[mikester]

Ive got double motion lights on 3 sides of my garage. The 4th side is covered by the light on the side of my house. I tied the garage into the alarm system from my house. I have 2 9x7 garage doors, a man door that also faces the driveway and 2 windows that face the house. I took the pull cords off the doors. Every door and window has a mag switch. 2 for the windows. The back of my house and the south side also have double motion lights. When I walk outside to take out the garbage it lights up like a prison yard.
Ive lived in this house since 82. I had 1 occasion where someone came up on to the deck and tried to get into the back door. My wife and son were home and scared them off. Times have changed. I turn my alarm on EVERY night and EVERY time I leave the house even if Im only going to be gone for 10 minutes. I also have blinds on my garage and basement windows so people cant see in.
When Im in the garage I very seldom leave the doors open. Most of the folks on my street are lifelong residents. Some of them think Im a little crazy. That helps.

 

[samsn4]

I'm thinking of rebuilding the doors with 2x4 framing, "inside" hinges (not the fence gate style that attach on the outside), and a shackleless or 'puck' style lock. I have a motion light directly over the door, and I'm thinking about modifying one of the stick on wireless garage door alarms so that when the door s are opened it sounds an alarm in the house. The down side is that we have a busy train tracks that are behind our house, think normal neighborhood layout and the ally way being a ditch then the tracks, so all they have to do is wait for the train to go by and they can create all the noise they want.

 

[plow]

I was thinking recently about ways to improve the security of my lively hood, aka my shop.

Looking for security improvements you guys have made, and things that you may suggest not to do. Modifications/improvements that have not worked well, or failed.

Areas like, security systems, cameras, locks, people and garage door fortification and locking etc.


Looking more for things you made/built/modified less than off the shelf things like buy this security camera.




I have two doors, a people door and a garage door.



My current measures include:

-Steel door in steel frame, no windows. (people door)
-Two windows in garage door - covered with plastic (still lets light in but can't see in)
-Bar over two windows in garage door
- Dead bolt lock -commercial grade
-no door knob, just a small cabinet knob to open door
-Door opens out not in
-anti pry plate on door by dead bolt
-two garage door locks (the kind that pass through the rail track) I pad lock one of them at when I'm not there
-Security system sign in window (although I don't have one)
- Door chime when door opens
- My dog is with me there almost everyday, and always lets me know when someone is near. (although he'd be useless if something scary came)
-I try to keep the door shut as much as possible, but you know, can't always have it shut.



The shop is rented, and there are outside lights, but they currently don't work, though I've been told they are working on it.

My largest concern would be someone just pushing in the bottom panel of the garage door. I've seen it done, and I know it doesn't take much effort.
.

Problem solved.

 

[Paticus]

Here is a solution that is free if you have an old phone or iPod touch iPad Android etc, you can use a free App called Presence that will allow you to turn your old devices into a client on your WiFi, you can set up rules for motion detection as well as remotely log in to see whats going on.

http://presencepro.com

I have one stashed on my garage door opener (looking forward) which has motion detected lights for good lighting, and I always have power. Its pretty cool and free if you have old devices.

Its not a deterrent but you can remotely monitor your garage, and be notified if somebody is in there- so you can call the police. Not to mention its proof that they stole that lathe that you don't have receipts for anymore etc...

OH AND ONE LAST THING- I found installing dummy blinking LED's that resemble an alarm box of some sort really helps. I did that in a car that was constantly being broken into and after the dummy blinking LED was installed it never got broken into again.

You asked for solutions that were not on the shelf, ha so there's my input

 

[wnstwolf]

My system is very simple. I bought a door sensor switch and hooked it into a relay that triggers a siren I picked up from a fire alarm guy. There is a specal key switch I got off amazon that you disarm it with at the door. Piercing sound that scares the **** out of my wife when she fails to turn it off.

Like you I worry about the panel on the overhead door. For this I added one of the stiffeners, looks like a v with two flat areas that spans the lower section. these go on the upper sections to help with the auto opener secton. I also added a slide lock to each side of the bottom panel that slides over into the track. This would be difficult to kick in (Alum door)

This stuff only keeps out the honest people I am sure if someone wanted to they would watch us go to work and then back a pick up through the door. Violent but not gonna stop em then..

 

[rburke65]

Yup...........

What the hell does that mean? And Paticus....what is an "old device"?

 

[Paticus]

What the hell does that mean? And Paticus....what is an "old device"?

An old/un-utilized iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad. Technology moves so quickly, often these devices just get tossed in a drawer for the newest version.