Looking for shop security ideas

[330Scott]

My shop is a long way from my house, although it is in a fairly secure area. In fact the cops gas up their squad cars right across the street. I am thinking about putting in some sort of motion detector type of alarm if for no other reason than to notify the neighbors that something is going on.

I don't want to subscribe to a commercial security company, but an outside alarm & light would be nice. Also, I have a common hallway between the other unit & mine that only I use. Thinking that a keypad to enable/disable the shop alarm located in that hallway might be a good idea.

Any suggestions?

 

[kartracer55]

Well, I dont knwo exactly what your shop is like, but you can start off with security film on the windows. Saw it on "it takes a thief" that **** is amazing. It keeps the glass from breaking apart when smashed, so ya still cant get in.

As far as your door goes, Go for a door that doesnt have a big window on it, and make sure your deadbolt is the kind thatneeds a key on both sides of the door.

As for an alarm, order one of those alarm kits from northern. They arnt that expensive, and you can get them with the obnoxious flashing light outside when it goes off. You can also resort to getting some stickers that saw "this shop protected by smith&wesson" or somethng along those lines. Even a motion light would deter thieves.

theres plenty of ways to make your shop apear o be like fort knox. One thing you might want to do is install blinds on any windows. so you can close themw hen your not in there. An interesting thought is also to store your toolboxes and $$$$ equipment against a wall, so thieves cant eyeball it.

Jim

 

[bmwpower]

...and last, but not least, lock your toolboxes!

 

[GearHead_1]

.50 caliber Barrett!

 

[imported_banzaitoyota]

dont post pics on forums showing your stash of goodies.

 

[330Scott]

Thanks for the variety of replies, guys.

I should have mentioned that I have no windows at all in the shop. That's both good & bad, but that's the way it is.

I have checked out Northern Tool & find it a bit odd that while many of their security systems are +$100, I can by a lock picking set for less than $20.

I think that either a motion detector or the gizmo that goes off when a contact is broken will be all I need.

Thanks again.

 

[Old Moparz]

I used to do home improvements full time years ago & worked with a guy that would say "If you know how to build them, you know how to get in to them." He had to "break in" at a few houses over the years because the home owner had locked him out when they were supposed to leave the place open for him. I had once even witnessed him remove a window from the garage in just a few minutes without breaking it, then climb in to open the door so we could get to our tools & supplies. Almost no noise, & no surprised neighbors since we were there to do work. If we wanted to, we could have done this to some of the neighbor's homes too.

Over the years I did a lot of construction & know how buildings are put together. Unfortunately, it's easier to go through a wall than it is to get through an expensive lock. The best things to do to prevent being burglarized are probably the least expensive. Not let anyone see what's inside, dead bolts on doors & not just the door knob locks, warning stickers, motion sensor lights & no shrubs against the building that will block the view & make someone more confident that they will not be seen breaking in. (Not having windows is a big plus.) Reinforcement of door frames with steel is another good idea. The wood will usually break before the hardware if someone is forcing it.

 

[74-77Camaro]

Moparz is correct, if they want in, best you can do is slow them down or make it very time consuming for them. I used to be an architect and did Federal Courthouse security, and later theft prevention type design in a retail store type enviroment.

Keeping them in the open and visible is the best deterrent. Making them work to get in is the 2nd best deterrent.

If possible, it's best to have a steel skinned solid core exterior door, in a steel doorframe. A common way for them to break in past a steel door is to use a 20 lb sledgehammer as a golf club, and bust the steel doorframe on the hinge side away from the wall / floor. The door can then be pried up enough to allow a small kid inside to open the door. To prevent this sink a bolt or J hook into the cement floor next to where the doorframe will be. Cut a small piece of angle iron and drill to bolt it onto the J bolt and bolt it to the doorframe. That will make it much harder to bust away from the floor and wall. If you use a lock on the door that requires a key on both sides of the door will prevent them from opening the door from the inside (if you keep the inside key with you).

They will also use the sledge on exterior hinges, busting them off. Hasp locks just knock right off. You can cut angle iron and bolt it to the door in such a way to make it harder to hit these parts of the door.

They can also just tear off the siding in one small area of a framed wall, and punch through the sheet rock to gain access. This can be prevented by using 1/2" sheetrock on the inside wall, then stapling chicken wire (yes, chicken wire) over the wall, from floor to ceiling, then adding another 1/2" layer of sheetrock over it. That makes it pretty dang hard to even cut thru, when you were expecting to just kick your way into it. This is good if you need to create a divinding wall between two areas, or if you need to reinforce a small room, like a closet, for a gun safe or something.

Windows are always an entry problem. There are films you can apply to make them harder to break the glass, but the frames are usually so flimsey they just knock right out. Bars or wire mesh panels are about the only cheap effective means.

Course all of this sounds like you would be living in a crime zone to have to do this, but if you are trying to protect something valuable, and the building is in a back yard or large lot away from the road, out in the country, they have opportunity and time to steal your toys. Make it hard for them.

Scott

 

[AdamMopar]

Hey someone I know. Adam

 

[330Scott]

Thanks for the add'l ideas, guys. I printed out this thread because of the great advice. You also made me realize another variable that I hadn't thought of. My shop is in a steel sided building that I share with another tenant. If his unit gets broken into, what is to stop the scum sucking thief from taking his time and breaking through our common wood stud wall into my shop. Considering this, maybe a motion detector with an outside light & alarm is the best option.

Back at ya, Adam. There are a few Moparts members over here. Btw, I met a guy at the Engelhart Performance car show two weekends ago who has a farm south of Redfield. He said that while he doesn't actually know you, he knows who you are. This was at a car show 180 miles from DM in a little dinky town in SE Minnesota - small world isn't it.

 

[iiibdsiil]

We have a 12,000 sq foot building. What we did was put a tint on the windows so even during the day you can't see in. The building is all open, with only 2 poles in the center to support it, so if you peek in, you could see everything. We have an alarm and insurance. The area is not that great, drug dealers a couple blocks away on the corner. We are seldom ever there though, and the cops know that. And since we are on a major road, they have to pass by it to get to Dunkin Donuts One night I was there at 2 a.m. and a cop comes up with his hand on his gun asking me questions. Said he saw one of the U-hauls we own, and the doors open and thought "Oh ****!" Then told me I should be careful in that area and I told him I'll be fine.

So, what I am saying is the cops will look after your stuff most likely better than you think. And even though most of us think they don't pay attention when they are driving around, I guess they notice more than we think. If they fill up right there, then I would hope thieves wouldn't be that dumb.

If you can't afford/don't want insurance, then I would do something with the windows and stuff. But, most of these guys ain't gonna go break into something if they don't know what is in it to begin with.

And if you have a roll up door, don't think that is the safest thing in the world. I have seen warehouses that kids both drove a car straight through the door to get the stuff and where kids ripped the door down with a piece of rope and the car. So, putting the locks through the track might do some good, if they are motivated, they are gonna get it.

 

[blonzz]

I am looking for security as well.

I am just finishing remodeling an exisiting shop. It is out back about 150' from the house. The walls are conctete block with brick facing. There are no windows. It has a rollup door on the front and a 42" entrance door on the backside.

I have installed multiple motion activated flood lights on all sides.

Where can I purchase a wireless alarm that activates inside the house if the shop outback is breached?

Thanks