Shed, garage and workshop security tips and systems

As far as securing your home, for most people this is a no brainer. Getting the right alarm system and security for your home just makes sense. Not only to protect your family, but also to protect your property and possessions from theft. But what about outside the home? Almost every home has a shed or a garage filled with valuables, yet a lot of people overlook securing their sheds as well, and when you think about it, this sounds crazy.

Whether you have a garden shed, tool shed, workshop or standalone garage, it probably contains expensive machinery and equipment as well as your DIY builds. And your garage houses your car, electric tools, mountain bikes, motorbikes and probably some sentimental items that you wouldn’t want to lose. So why wouldn’t you want to keep these things safe from theft and damage? Any area that houses your valuables is worth securing, and fitting an alarm system to a shed or garage, is the same thing as fitting one to your front door.

Why You Should Secure Your Shed or Garage

Sheds and garages are a great source of extra space, especially for those things that we have no real use for, but aren’t quite ready to get rid of. Or the ‘occasional’ equipment that we use every now and again but that doesn’t fit inside the house. These are still valuable and useful items, so why should they not be protected? Your lawn mower, your children’s bikes, your weights – these are valuable possessions that could easily be stolen without an alarm system in place.

And securing your shed or garage is even more important when it isn’t just a shed or garage. To make the best use of space, plenty of people are converting their garden sheds, and their garages into dens, offices, and workshops. If you have a tool shed that you have spent hundreds of dollars stocking up, you will want to secure that place as soon as possible. Or if you have converted your garage into an office workspace, your computer, printer, files, and the very implements that you use to make a living, need to be protected, just like they would be inside the home.

To say that having your shed or garage broken into is frustrating, would be an understatement. Though a situation like this may not be as harrowing as someone breaking into your home, it is still a frightful and unsettling experience. Fitting garden shed alarms can save you so much unnecessary stress and frustration, and it will also save you from regretting that you didn’t make sure your valuables were safe and secure in there. Allow yourself to enjoy that piece of mind that comes with knowing that you have done everything you can to secure your home and surrounding property from burglars.

How do I secure my Shed and Garage?

Even if you decide not to go down the security alarm system route, you should still be doing all that you can to make sure that your shed or garage has all the protection that you can offer. There are a number of different things that you can do, so that you won’t have to constantly worry every time you leave the house. To get you started, here are some tips securing sheds and garages:

• Always lock your doors. Just like you wouldn’t leave your house unattended without locking up, you should never just leave your garage door or shed door unlocked. Nothing is more frustrating than being burgled and realising that the thief just walked right in. This is even more important if you have children, as from a safety stand point, they should not be able to gain access to machinery or electrical tools.
• Have sturdy locks fitted. Locking your doors may not be enough if it is simply the original, wonky old lock, and a key. You may want to consider having a padlock or a sturdier lock put in place, maybe even multiples locks. This is not only securing your shed or garage, but at a glance, a thief will more than likely decide that it is not worth the effort to break into your shed.
• Set up spotlights. Motion sensor lights are enough to scare many would-be burglars away, and though you may have them at the entrances to your home, you probably didn’t think to add them to the garage or the shed as well. Again, this isn’t worth the risk for thieves.

Garage and Shed Alarms Go Wireless

Growing in popularity with alarm systems these days are wireless alarm systems. Wireless systems rely on Wi-Fi signals to relay information and keep you up to date on the status of your property. These systems have a number of benefits that their wired counter parts just can’t compete with, and when it comes to sheds and garages, keeping it simple can make all the difference.

Benefits:

• No data-cables. This is pretty obvious, though the absence of long Ethernet cables can make more of a difference that you may have previously imagined. No data-cables means that installation can be done very quickly for your entire property, without the need for installation.
• Wider net. The lack of wires also allows for a much larger radius and reach for your alarm system, especially if you have a Wi-Fi booster in place. Some systems can cover hundreds of feet at a time.
• Wall penetration. Wi-Fi signals also allow you to penetrate walls and other obstacles that may have to be damaged or removed entirely for wired installations.

Garage and Shed Video Alarm System

One of the great things that alarm systems can give you these days is evidence of the crime. Video alarm systems can give you a great shot of the perpetrator and with wide-angle cameras, you can capture a lot of areas with just a few cameras. Outdoor cameras also let you cover paths that lead to sheds, garages or front entrances meaning you can thwart break-ins before they happen. A great way to deter and catch burglars.

Systems like CleverLoop also let you store footage locally or on the Cloud and out of harm’s way. And because these options are available for free with CleverLoop, this option is easy on the bank account!

Further Information:

Here is a really useful YouTube video that has a bunch of good ideas on how to secure sheds and workshops, not only to keep people out, but also to make it harder should someone manage to get in: