Small Garage Security Project

[38Chevy454]

In addition to normal garage car project work over the holiday time here, I finally made up some security bars for my detached shop windows. Windows are 3 ft square, the bars are are 3/4 inch square tubing, and the mounting feet are 1.25 inch wide flat stock. The 3/4 inch bars are welded where they cross. 2-inch long lags into the main framing of the window. There are two windows, both the same size and security bars design. Sorry my picture not the best, snowed last night and being bright outside makes the picture tough.

I already reinforced my man door frame and hinges, plus have a piece of metal to prevent kicking in the door around the lock and handle. The door could be broken, but the frame reinforcements keep the lock area and hinges from being a weak point. My wife thinks the window bars are a potential fire escape being blocked, but I have two large garage doors plus the man door, I am not concerned.

The economy is not getting any better from the sounds of it, so at least the security bars help someone getting in from the back side where it is not visible from the house. Someone could break the window and then unscrew all the lag bolts, but I think the visual deterrence will suffice and discourage that.

 

[JamieK]

Looks nice. Looks like it may still be big enough for a skinny thief to wiggle through, though. If it is, just wrap the bars with barbed wire!

How are you securing the garage doors?

 

[getfamiliar]

Paint them white to soften things up a bit? Or not, ha!

 

[NUTTSGT]

They look good but I think I'd agree with Jamie. I think somebody could squeeze through the bars. FYI, not all break ins are done by men, there are womens doing it too.

 

[jamesemery728]

They look good but I think I'd agree with Jamie. I think somebody could squeeze through the bars. FYI, not all break ins are done by men, there are womens doing it too.

Sometimes they even take their kids along to climb in and unlock the door for them.

 

[38Chevy454]

It would have to be a very small person to squeeze through. The openings are real size about 11 x 16. Sure a small person or kid might get through, but nothing is 100%. I also have 4 large dogs that are not too friendly for strangers. The dogs are most likely going to cause someone to go elsewhere before coming into the yard.

I did not want it so much that it defeated being a window. I think this adds a lot to the otherwise unprotected window.

Garage doors, one is locked with padlock, and the other is connected to LM3800 with the built-in deadbolt. Nothing is 100% as I stated before, you just make it as uninviting and trouble as reasonable.

 

[NUTTSGT]

You're right that nothing is 100%, you have a good deterent and that's the first step to prevent break ins.

 

[NUTTSGT]

BTW, something else you could do if you plan on leaving for a weekend or vacation. Weld about 4 bolts onto the bars in the corners. Make a frame that fits inside the window area and fill the center of the frame with expanded metal, basically creating a heavy duty screen. When you leave, put the screen in place, putting nuts on the bolts would hold it in place.

Painting the bars and the screen white along with a white blind, it'll hide the bars (until you get close) and keep the prying eyes out also.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Curtains or shades are a good idea as well so people can't see in.

 

[5lima30]

Nice job! If you welded little sharp protrusions (decorations) to the bars the skinny crack head could leave some DNA evidence behind!

 

[NCAudi]

Great job. I like that the center bar lines up with the windows, helps it blend into the garage and keeps the windows useful. Like others have said, nothing is completely thief proof, just making harder and more time consuming so they will seek out an easier target.

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

My dad left enough space between the window & the bars to hang curtains or venetian blinds. When the blinds are closed, the bars are not visible.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

If you have any other windows to do, I'd say do two vertical bars. The vertical bar of the window frame already blocks entry in the center, so two vertical bars centered on each pane of glass would be MUCH more secure. Either way, nice job overall. More secure than my crappy garage.

 

[Lurker]

Nice job! If you welded little sharp protrusions (decorations) to the bars the skinny crack head could leave some DNA evidence behind!

I vote for this!!!!!!

 

[Bronson]

I have a similar set up in My shop. I took one extra step. I took a grinder and buggered up the heads of the bolts, so they would have to be drilled/cut out to get them out. No purchase point for a socket or wrench. Anything to slow the ******* down until I come out with the 12 ga Benelli.

 

[geezer48]

redneck home defence system

 

[dave4512]

I like the bars I think they would deter a would be lazy thief at least. I think painting may be a good idea cause I believe some thief's will see the bars and at a bare minimum check it out since they now are for sure you have valuable stuff in the shop.

 

[BudgetRacing]

2 more cheap ways to make this better is to make a stopper so you cant slide the window open with a crow bar. The second thing i like to do is there is a film that holds the window intact when people try to break it.

The more time it takes for someone to get in the less likely it is they will keep trying. Do you have motion activated lights outside the garage?

 

[TOOL_MONGER]

I had a breaking at a building I own... they just kicked the door in... so when I replaced it I reinforced the jam with some angle and flat stock. then I made a cross bar for piece of mind... went back to finish trimmimg the inside and noticed they had been back and had tried again to pry the door open.... i then built a cage door over the outside to padlock... no one has gotten back in... but if someone really wants what you got they will likely get it. all they would have to do is use a vehicle to pull door off or drive through it... really chaps my a$$... lowlifes are everywhere... I am reluctant to post much online about what I have, pictures of shop layout etc... there are likely people cruzing forums looking for a good score... a motion activated camera is my next purchase to hopefully id the scumbags.

 

[5lima30]

I have seen window boxes that had flowers planted inside of broken beer bottles which were well concealed by the flowers.

 

[tornadocaster]

My house was broken in when i first moved to edmonton. We weren't there long and wife and kids were in vancouver. Kitchen was in renos and all my good tools were there. Not one was taken, but my kids piggy banks, my gold chain and wedding ring and my change box were taken. Th ey broke thru the old glass window in the front door and unlocked it.
Long story short my doors are all replaced, alarm is in, jack russel terrorist on duty, but as for locks i spent big bucks. When I was in vancouver, the local cops tried ramming the front door of the local motorcycle gang with a battering ram, they gave up and went thru a window. The lock on the door was a multilock.

The ball bearing looking thing on the end of the deadbolt locks into the striker on the jamb side. The striker isnt just a plate but a small welded box made to be anchored even in the pocket. I have 6-8" long screws holding the striker and hinges. I know that if someone wants to get in they will, but the average piece of sh!t wont get in, and if I'm home my wife will take care of the rest.
Cheers
Gio

 

[White 99]

I have been considering window bars lately also. Yours are very nicely done. I am sure they would make a thief take at least a second thought.

As for me I have been wondering, as I don't weld, if fake wooden bars would make them try somewhere else. It would be easy to insert some black painted doweling into holes drilled into the window frame. Anyone think it would help?

 

[mdbeck1]

I have been considering window bars lately also. Yours are very nicely done. I am sure they would make a thief take at least a second thought.

As for me I have been wondering, as I don't weld, if fake wooden bars would make them try somewhere else. It would be easy to insert some black painted doweling into holes drilled into the window frame. Anyone think it would help?

Why not just buy some round steel bar, paint it black and do the same thing?

 

[Jrican]

I have seen window boxes that had flowers planted inside of broken beer bottles which were well concealed by the flowers.

I've seen glass shards embeded in concreat on top of walls. Looks cool and it's decorative! Don't have my own pics, but this is what I found online:

here:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OthPOnxt9TU/TkaAmFBi-vI/AAAAAAAAABA/bQWaRg77BBk/s1600/IMG_1913.JPG

and here:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ElKyEMMpps/T-xi9pFyLgI/AAAAAAAAAM4/RPMEL9HonI0/s320/IMG_3649.JPG

 

[38Chevy454]

Nice job! If you welded little sharp protrusions (decorations) to the bars the skinny crack head could leave some DNA evidence behind!

Great job. I like that the center bar lines up with the windows, helps it blend into the garage and keeps the windows useful. Like others have said, nothing is completely thief proof, just making harder and more time consuming so they will seek out an easier target.

My dad left enough space between the window & the bars to hang curtains or venetian blinds. When the blinds are closed, the bars are not visible.

I have a similar set up in My shop. I took one extra step. I took a grinder and buggered up the heads of the bolts, so they would have to be drilled/cut out to get them out. No purchase point for a socket or wrench. Anything to slow the ******* down until I come out with the 12 ga Benelli.

2 more cheap ways to make this better is to make a stopper so you cant slide the window open with a crow bar. The second thing i like to do is there is a film that holds the window intact when people try to break it.

The more time it takes for someone to get in the less likely it is they will keep trying. Do you have motion activated lights outside the garage?

All good ideas, thanks for the suggestions. I deliberately made the center bar to be in line with the window divider, as NCAudi noted. That may be limiting on the ultimate size of the openings between bars, but I think these will be enough deterrent. I may paint them white, just so they do not visually stand out so much.

 

[RVDan]

Use deadbolts that are keyed on both sides. If I wanted into a building I'd just use a cordless drill and a holesaw to pound a hole big enough to reach through and unlock the door.

Or my cordless grinder with a zip disk on it to cut the outer housing off the deadbolt.

Steel fire rated doors are very hard to drill or cut through, the vinyl siding, OSB, and Drywall that most buildings are made of are easy to cut through.

Dogs are the only real sollution, but only a sollution to a thief that has moral values and won't kill a dog.