Garage Security?

[Rez90]

I recently built a detached garage on my property and i have overwhelming paranoia that someone is going to break into it.

Thread here on the garage.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162680

Any suggestions on how i can deter potential scumbags from trying to get in at night time?

I have motion detectors with lights out front but they don't do much IMO. Is there some kind of motion detector with an alarm i can use? or an easy to set up camera system i can put out front with say an internet linked screen to my BR?

Any help/suggestions are greatly apprecaited.

 

[aka Larry]

Subscribed...I'm in the same boat.

Once suggestion I have is to cover the windows with blinds or whatever to keep prying eyes from seeing what there is to steal. I purposely deleted the windows on my new building for that very reason.

 

[Bob-B]

My garage has a IR motion sensor that is part of our whole house system, monitored by a security firm.

 

[ydna]

we used to have a relay and a door bell rigged up to a motion sensor. Not hard to do but a waste of time. All you do all night is spring out of bed and rush to the window, only to find out the wind / rabbit / neighbours cat / garbage in the breeze set it off.

Alarm company decal on the window might help. Keeping the door shut sho no one ever sees whats in there might help too. Window bars are a plus.

Also, do something to combat this little trick.

I bolted plates to the side of my door opener arm to prevent the latch being hooked. Wont stop someone jacking up the door though.

 

[1jjpop]

Do away with windows , don't have lights around it on,if they are going to steal stuff let them do it in the dark. I told my neighbors I will watch there place & they can call me if they see someone around my shop.I have good neighbors. Been working good . I raise tomatos in my garden , and I give my neighbors plenty to eat.

 

[Krusty]

You could mount a motion detector alarm (Amazon has many many such units) inside the garage with a wireless control module mounted away from the entrance (maybe even in your house?). The modules either have a siren built into them, or you can get a separate siren. They also can be rigged to auto-dial a number if you are away and they usually have a key fob that easily disables or enables the system. I have one of these that I am installing in my porch workshop. Hopefully, having it inside will limit the false alarms, though I suspect that I will still be the one who sets it off regularly.

Krusty

 

[CheezyRiderAZ]

I don't know how far your bedroom is from your garage or what the range is but I mounted a baby monitor transmitter to the ceiling of my garage with receivers in both my kitchen and bedroom,
It's a cheap idea but it won't do much good if you're not home, just something you could incorporate into any other solutions...

 

[zip95864]

I do some simple things: the roll up garage door is locked from the inside with a Master pad lock. The key to the pad lock is hidden in the garage.

The side door is accessed from the backyard and the door has a window in it. It is locked with a deadbolt that is keyed on both sides. So if they break the glass they gotta crawl through the window or just kick it in.

 

[bczygan]

Layers of security.
Best to prevent theft rather than try to catch thieves and retrieve things afterwards.
Hide it
Protect it
Insure it
Physical barriers and alarms at perimeter of property and outside surface of building as well as inside.
Camouflage. Hide building with fences and plantings.
Physical presence. Have dog in the building or compound. Even add apartment and live there or connect it to the house.
Hide and secure things inside the structure. Hidden storage or even complete hidden rooms and false walls. Keep your most valuable things in a box marked Christmas decorations or Baby clothes.

 

[Rodhotz]

insurance, lots of it!! they can have what they want i get cash!!!

 

[Angelfire]

According to the police around here, cameras are the second best deterrent to thieves. Number one was having a loud dog.

 

[P0234]

Amazon has a nice wireless alarm system, Skylink. It has fairly good range, I'd say 300 feet is no problem. You could install the core system in the garage and a remote siren in your house. You can add dialers to call you when something happens as well.

I had that system in my old place for two years, worked great, only one false during stinkbug season.

 

[AETD]

Security locks,

Alarm with extra battery pack and extra sirene inside and outside. every door & window have magnetic & G-force sensor. ir & smoke detector, phone central with simcard on battery pack. to call and send text message when alarm is triggered.

i have foscam ip camera with pan/tilt i can see from my computer or iphone. auto records if motion is detected. This is what i first had. but after B&E police told me images where useless. you see someone braking and stealing my material. with a jeans and a hoodie. but no face recognition
i have it i keep it. but for real surveillance it is worthless.

If you want an alarm, ask your insurace if (and what) alarms give you reduction on the insurance.

my alarm is earned back in 3 years with the reduction i get on my insurance.
We can't insure material for 100% (or more) of the value. so that *****.
if they steal a 2 year old item from 1000 euro, insurace wil pay about 380 euro (new price - 21% taxes, - devaluation = little more than 1/3th of the value) so if they take it i'm screwed.. so i need to make it as hard as possible for them to get in.

now i have 3 doors 3 windows in the barn. when i will rebuild it, i will eliminate all the windows and just use 2 front doors.

 

[crazytrain]

1.) Always keep doors and windows locked when you are not in it, this goes for cars, house, garage and shed or other buildings it's the deterrent. Theives look for an easy in.

2.) A good watch dog is a great deterrent, bonus for large breed, extra bonus if mean and scary looking.

3.) Eliminate windows or make them up high so they are not easily looked into or get through. If they are already there put up blinds or curtains to keep prying eyes out.

4.) A good alarm system with color cameras. I would NOT go with a commercial alarm company but rather a system that links video to the internet and alerts you first. That way if there if the alarm does go off you can check the property and alert police only if there is a real problem and provide descriptions of the intruder to the police. Something like this is what I'm talking about.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=15b_1321482315

5.) If you do go with a commercial alarm company. Check with local police department to see if they charge any fees to respond to your alarm activations and any false alarm policies. Make sure your house is clearly marked both on the house and on the mailbox this will cut police response times if they don't have to try to figure out which house is yours. Make sure the alarm company has your exact address including township or borough you live in. Make sure the alarm company has your home phone number and cell phone numbers and keep them current and up to date. Make sure the alarm company has good directions to your house if its hard to find. Give the alarm company a good description of your house to give to police (ie. style, color, brick, stone, stucco or wood) it helps police locate your house faster. Have a neighbor, friend or relative or all three listed as key holders that could respond in case there is a problem and the alarm company cannot get ahold of you. Make sure the alarm company has their namse and current phone numbers. This benifits the police and does not tie them up for long periods of time.

6.) Like someone else said work with your neighbors and have them keep an eye on your house and property and do the same for them in return.

7.) Lights on timers and motion detectors are also a good deterrent. Have a neighbor get your mail and newspaper if you go away and maybe park their car in your driveway while you are gone.

 

[5lima30]

Four legged alarms are the best IMHO, backed up by something that goes bang! Doors and windows are your weak points so focus on "hardening" them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Exterior motion detector lights on all side do help.

Locking the garage door from the inside is a great idea !

IMHO, the man door should be a commercial steel door in a steel frame with no windows. The door should open outward. Add a "latch/lock guard" plate.



If you have highly valuable items in your garage, and a thief knows it, they will probably get in ! Don't let strangers know what is in there. Make them think twice about breaking in.

You need security that is better than "the next guy's" !!

 

[bczygan]

Another method:

Make it easy to get in...but impossible to get out.

 

[crewchief888]

just my $0.02

keep the door closed
minimize window access
service or mandoor within sight of the house
expensive toolboxes/ equipment off to the side
never leave anything outside in plain sight
4 legged friend,
doesnt have to be an "attack" dog, only one that doesnt like strangers, and will bark
things that go BOOM
good relationship with the neighbors,
if they know you keep an eye out for them, they'll likely return the favor, if i'm leaving town overnight, i let my closest neighbor know i'm gone, and secure the overhead door from opening. service door is also visible to him just looking out his back door.

i dont allow strangers near my garage,(or house), usually by the time they start up the driveway, they dog is barking, and i head them off before they get close enough to see inside.
i normally have a vehicle parked in front of the garage to block anyones view of whats inside.
my garage is dark enough inside and far enough back on my property, that it's difficult to see from the street

 

[MtechII]

I would go with secrurity cameras just like the banks use them, use a harddrive with a least 750gb. and run the wires for the monitor and the harddrive inside the house away from the garage, that way you can have access to control from inside the house and not risking of protential thieves destroying the HDD. That is just my 2 cents.

 

[porschedude996TT]

I have an alarm system for the house and the detached shop. The detectors are all RF type and no hard wires. There are three detectors in the shop (Glass Breakage, Motion, and one for the window in case it was opened). I someone enters the shop while we are home, the main unit announces there is movement in the shop. If someone breaks in the service calls me and the police. They have been out twice for our early screwups. Once when I came home and opened the shop forgetting about the alarm, and once when my wife didn't lock the semi-fixed french door in the house. It opened with the help of the wind one day and the cops entered the house with the guns drawn. This alarm system even lets you check the status and arm or disarm using a smartphone. They also have a camera system that records with motion and send you a clip of what is going on. Love the system.

 

[Kevin C]

Most break ins happen during the day. My theory is the best deterrent is to make your property a less desirable target than your neighbors.

1: Hard to get into.
2: Nothing visible to raise interest in getting in.
3: A camera or two.
4: A decent sized dog.
5: Hard to get into.

Remotes left in cars are a favorite target. Break a car window and then open the garage door.

Single pane windows are also bad.

A well reinforced dead bolts helps. The best you can do is slow someone down or make it so they need to make a lot of noise.

 

[HeadsUp]

I put one of these under the roof eave overhang tucked next to the downspout and one inside of the garage.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVPTZC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They are setup to offload the data to an offsite server. In a year caught two "incidences". One helped me the other a neighbor. In a year only one person (a guest) recognized the camera.

Will be setting up more as time and funds allow.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Have you considered a tool cage? Metal construction. Built into or bolted to the floor? Large enough to hold all of your expensive tools and torches? Also remove the torch head and lock it up in a toolbox. Boxes bolted together and chained to something. Sunshade film on the windows and steel bars.

Also take a look at this: http://www.mechanicsinsurance.com/

 

[Rez90]

Have you considered a tool cage? Metal construction. Built into or bolted to the floor? Large enough to hold all of your expensive tools and torches? Also remove the torch head and lock it up in a toolbox. Boxes bolted together and chained to someting.

I'm much more concerned with the vehicles in the garage.....

 

[bczygan]

I'm much more concerned with the vehicles in the garage.....

Chain the axles to steel embedded in the concrete slab. for ease of use, make it a device that raises up from the floor and clamps the axle from a lever that is accessible away from under the car. Don't forget to lock up the tools they could use to defeat this.

 

[jlckmj]

I was at Menards today and when I walked by the wall of outside lights on display, I heard the following;

WARNING, YOU ARE TRESPASSING!
WARNING, YOU ARE TRESPASSING!

This kept going for probably 2 full minutes and it was pretty loud. I noticed that the recording was coming from an outdoor light with a motion sensor and it sold for a little over $100.00.

It was actually pretty slick.

Jim

 

[AETD]

I was at Menards today and when I walked by the wall of outside lights on display, I heard the following;

WARNING, YOU ARE TRESPASSING!
WARNING, YOU ARE TRESPASSING!

This kept going for probably 2 full minutes and it was pretty loud. I noticed that the recording was coming from an outdoor light with a motion sensor and it sold for a little over $100.00.

It was actually pretty slick.

Jim

Was it with recordable message?
"Yo Mother%*°ker, get your A$$ off my propperty our i'll shoot some lead in your as$"

 

[Nowater]

I did see somewhere on the net where a company sells an alarm connected to a pressurized can of pepper spay that fills an entire garage sized room. Makes someone sorry they ventured into your space! The life of the pepper spay can is several years, and they come in several sizes. According to the company, the pepper spray really hurts and disables for a period of time while remaining non-lethal. I forget their name.

 

[Andybull]

I hardwired my garage alarm, I just don't care for wireless. The windows and doors have magnetic switches, there's also a smoke alarm and two ceiling mounted motion detectors.

 

[MeentSS02]

I have an alarm system for the house and the detached shop. The detectors are all RF type and no hard wires. There are three detectors in the shop (Glass Breakage, Motion, and one for the window in case it was opened). I someone enters the shop while we are home, the main unit announces there is movement in the shop. If someone breaks in the service calls me and the police. They have been out twice for our early screwups. Once when I came home and opened the shop forgetting about the alarm, and once when my wife didn't lock the semi-fixed french door in the house. It opened with the help of the wind one day and the cops entered the house with the guns drawn. This alarm system even lets you check the status and arm or disarm using a smartphone. They also have a camera system that records with motion and send you a clip of what is going on. Love the system.

That sounds exactly like what we just got done installing for our whole house/garage. We've been super happy with ours thus far. Even my shed has sensors.

 

[Bronson]

Bars on windows
steel man doors and frames
logging chain across inside of street facing door
windows painted white
roll up door triple secured
video cameras
big *** dog
Beretta Tactical 12 gauge

 

[Toolman12]

I installed steel man door and frosted all the windows (this still lets a lot of light in) planted a bunch of cactus plants under the windows the ones with long thorns and put fake cameras all over the place lots of lights with motion sensors garage door is is pad locked from the inside. And a large NRA MEMBER sign where everyone can see it. So far so good

 

[ozyborn]

For me. Fenced in back yard. My 2 German Shepard have the run of the yard. Only door outside the fence is the garage door that is kept bolted and locked when I am not in it. Doggie doors lets my pups go into the garage whenever they want. Go ahead and open the gate. They will not care. they stay in the yard. The fence is to give YOU warning that this is their area. It has worked so far with no issues.

Nothing will keep out everybody. Just make it not worth their time. Lock all access to it. Motion lights to light up the area. Get at least a basic alarm system. Mine is the food based woofer type.

 

[Kevin C]

Part of this is understanding who you are trying to keep out.

1: A pro style thief that knows you have a lot of tools and can turn a good profit on them.

2: Random young delinquent male teen.

3: Drug addict.


Good luck with #1. From what I have seen they will easily figure out a way around your system. The dogs get steaks, they have good bolt cutters and will be in and out while you are not home and wont really care about an alarm system, as long as they are gone before anyone can respond.

My neighbor's house got hit by a pro, in and out before anyone was able to respond. They made it past the alarm and it only went off by accident as they left.

My friends mobile shop also got hit by a pro... twice! First time they made it past his lock and cleaned him out. He super hardened the locks and put lo jack on the trailer.

They found the lo-jack and disabled it and stole the whole trailer. Smart guys, they hit him on a really raining stormy night when there was a lot of background noise and no one would be out.

Random teens.... Knock on the door to see if your home. One is at the front door, the other walks around back to look for stuff to take. They will have an excuse for being there. "my friend jimmy gave me this address, doesn't he live here? Sorry, we had the wrong address". They will probably be on bikes.

Drug addict. Odds are, he wont notice the dogs and will ignore all deterrents you put up. On a good day, he will be far enough out of it to not really care. He needs some cash and will do what it takes to score.

Although a bit messed up, he will still be looking for an easy target. During daylight hours eh will wander from house to house ringing door bells. No answer? He tries the door. Front door locked, he will go around the back.

If the back door is locked he will wander over to your garage and take a look in the windows to see what he can grab. Likely to use what ever he can find to his advantage. You trash container / recycling container is great for rolling away whatever he just stole.

Leaving a ladder out is a huge bonus, he can get to the second story windows.

This is not a city only problem. Drug addiction is everywhere, and for some substances its hitting harder in more suburban areas. The addicts usually does something stupid and gets caught. however, in the time between needing some money and getting caught he can create a one person crime wave in the area he is working.

Where he works is usually based on transportation and where he is able to fence what he stole.

Drug addict on the prowl. Before he got hooked he was probably not a bad guy. Addiction makes people do some crazy stuff.

Same guy at the back door. Pretty sure he took off once the dog started barking.

 

[Colonial Cobra]

X10.com

 

[Cyberbear]

There used to be a company that was called X10.com for DIY people who wanted to design their own system using ready made components. I bought their IR detection combo camera and light units for each entry location. After one break in through my industrial quality steel door, I up graded everything by skinning the outside of my doors with 10ga steel, and the inside with 12 ga steel sheet. All doors lock from the inside except for one entry door that has 8 - 5/8" dia, steel locking bolts, making it easier to chop a hole in the wall rather than bother with any doors.
There is alarm provisions, both silent and audible, for entry, motion and fire, with entry delay before the audible alarms sounds so I have time to get set in order to deal with anyone fleeing the building. We are out in the country and after 8PM the police assistance must come from an hour away, if available. Up here we shoot first and ask questions later. The police have told us we are on our own and have tried to take appropriate measures.

 

[ozyborn]

Same boat but the back yard is fenced in. Brutus is back there. He is my german shepard. The back yard and garage are his, He has is own doggy door into it. Will not eat food other people toss in the yard and does not like anybody unles he knows you. If I am feeling really mean I let the kids camp in he back yard. Then nothing gets close...or wants to.

But yes, keep everything locked, if you have a house alarm system tie the garage into it. Big overprotective dog. Protected by Smith&Wesson sign

 

[sammerdog]

I did see somewhere on the net where a company sells an alarm connected to a pressurized can of pepper spay that fills an entire garage sized room... ...I forget their name.

Very interesting concept.

Burglar Bomb: http://burglarbomb.com/Repulsar-I.aspx

 

[SouthernGemini]

There are many great ideas on this thread but I will concentrate on the video surveillance side of it. CrazyTrain, MtechII and a couple of others have the right idea going with a camera system that records to a hard drive and avoid wireless. Hard wired is the way to go. Get the nicest system you can afford. Even if you have to do it in stages. Period. As a former police officer, I can attest that having poor quality video of some jerk stealing your goods, damaging your property, etc and not being able to provide any useable identification is frustrating. This goes for the officer and homeowner.

Someone on the thread said cameras are the second biggest deterrent. I agree. For my home system, I added extra infrared lights around the house. I chose the wavelength that is easier for the human eye to see the red LEDs. This is on the back of the house.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8OS1XK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not only does it light up my back yard well, but it is hard to miss. I think this is a great deterrent.

A good system is going to cost you but as long as you get over the initial cost for the 'brains' of the system, you can add cameras later. I started out with a 'brain' that can support sixteen cameras but currently have four. I put it up in April/May 2013. Now every so often, say Xmas I can buy myself another cam and simply plug and play. I can see my cams on my phone, I have an offsite back up/recorder at work linked to a 42 inch display at my office. All day I watch the mail, UPS or Fed Ex, neighbors walking their dog, etc. Very reassuring.

 

[JayCrash450]

There are many great ideas on this thread but I will concentrate on the video surveillance side of it. CrazyTrain, MtechII and a couple of others have the right idea going with a camera system that records to a hard drive and avoid wireless. Hard wired is the way to go. Get the nicest system you can afford. Even if you have to do it in stages. Period. As a former police officer, I can attest that having poor quality video of some jerk stealing your goods, damaging your property, etc and not being able to provide any useable identification is frustrating. This goes for the officer and homeowner.

Someone on the thread said cameras are the second biggest deterrent. I agree. For my home system, I added extra infrared lights around the house. I chose the wavelength that is easier for the human eye to see the red LEDs. This is on the back of the house.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8OS1XK/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Not only does it light up my back yard well, but it is hard to miss. I think this is a great deterrent.

A good system is going to cost you but as long as you get over the initial cost for the 'brains' of the system, you can add cameras later. I started out with a 'brain' that can support sixteen cameras but currently have four. I put it up in April/May 2013. Now every so often, say Xmas I can buy myself another cam and simply plug and play. I can see my cams on my phone, I have an offsite back up/recorder at work linked to a 42 inch display at my office. All day I watch the mail, UPS or Fed Ex, neighbors walking their dog, etc. Very reassuring.

What system for the "brains" did you go with? I like the idea of being able to check cams remotely and recording.