Best Garage and Shed Alarms

Table of Contents

Why are garages and sheds targeted for theft and what makes them such attractive targets? There are two reasons:

One is that most people use garages and sheds to store expensive equipment such as power tools, bikes, mowers, sports equipment, and garden tools.

The second reason is that they aren’t given much thought security-wise, providing the perfect opportunity for burglars to break in, steal items of value, and make a run for it without getting noticed or caught.

When it comes to home security, most of the attention is given to securing the main living quarters while overlooking other important parts of the property such as the garage and shed.

The garage and shed are as much a part of a house as any other area and need to be protected against threats such as theft, intrusions, and burglaries.

Doing the bare minimum, such as using an easy-to-break lock or padlock, is not enough to secure the valuable contents inside.

It is important to invest in good quality security systems such as garage and shed alarms that can add an extra layer of protection to your overall home security.

Read on to find out how to choose the best garage and shed alarms and the best features to look out for:

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST GARAGE AND SHED ALARMS?

Garage and shed alarm systems have gained quite a bit of popularity over the years resulting in an increase in demand and the number of options available.

When it comes to security, you simply cannot settle for what you get and must always make an informed decision choosing only the best option to fulfil your security requirements.

What are security alarm systems? They are designed to detect intrusions and break-ins using a series of sensors that sound an alarm to facilitate a fast response as soon as they occur.

When choosing the best garage and shed alarm system, there are a few crucial factors that you need to consider. They include:

THE TYPE OF SENSOR

The first thing that you need to decide is how the alarm system should detect a break-in, which comes down to the type of sensor it uses.

There are three main types of sensors used in garage and shed alarm systems: door and window frame contact sensors, vibration detectors, and PIR sensors. Let’s look at each one in detail:

Door and window frame contact sensors

Contact sensors generally consist of two components, one of which is attached to the garage or shed door/window and the other to the frame.

Although they are not touching, they have a magnetic contact between them which breaks when the door or window is opened.

If the contact is broken and the system isn’t deactivated, the alarm will go off, which is precisely what happens when someone tries to forcefully break in.

Vibration detectors

Garage and shed alarms with vibration detectors can be installed on the doors, windows, roof, or walls of the garage or shed, and are set off by movements detected within their range. If someone tries to break-in, the alarm will be triggered by the vibrations caused by it.

To avoid false alarms, you may adjust the sensitivity of these sensors depending on your surroundings and environmental conditions such as bad weather.

You must, however, be careful to not turn down the sensitivity too much that it results in an undetected intrusion.

Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors

PIR sensors are the third and most popular type of sensors used for garage and shed security that works by detecting movement via variations in infrared body heat.

They offer greater intelligence than their counterparts and are more reliable when it comes to detecting break-ins and intrusions.

PIR alarms come with advanced features such as pet-friendliness that do not get triggered by the lower body heat of pet animals such as cats and dogs and only pick up on human heat signatures.

You also have the option of combining the different types of sensors that cover all the bases and provide a more comprehensive approach towards intrusion detection.

THE SENSOR RANGE

Another important aspect that you must not overlook when choosing the best alarm for your garage and shed is the range of the sensors.

When installing the sensor, make sure it covers the entire area or else a seasoned burglar might use it to their advantage.

If the garage or shed is spacious and you feel like it is not possible to cover it using one sensor, you may want to invest in an alarm system with multiple sensors.

THE LOUDNESS OF THE ALARM

A security alarm is made up of different components which include the control panel, sensors, keypad, sounder, and batteries, and each one plays an important part in its overall functioning.

The sounder is the part of the system that makes a noise when the alarm is triggered and is what draws attention to the intrusion.

A garage or shed alarm is only effective if it features a loud and frightening noise with a minimum loudness of 100dB that not just alerts the homeowners but also scares away the intruders from trying to break-in.

Usually, the louder the siren, the more effective the alarms are as a burglary deterrent since they are audible over longer distances as well.

NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

Apart from sounding a siren, there are other ways in which you can get notified if an intrusion is detected by the system.

While sirens are very effective security measures, they may sometimes go unnoticed if the house is empty or in a secluded area with no one nearby to respond to them.

There’s also such a thing called as alarm fatigue where if the alarm goes off too many times, you may become desensitised to them and no longer respond to them, which may be true in the case of your neighbours.

To combat the issue, dialler burglar alarms come equipped with notification alert features to contact the owners or whoever has been nominated to be contacted in the event of an alarm trigger.

The systems are linked to the phone line or GSM mobile network, and allow up to three to ten numbers to be saved to be contacted in such emergencies. It contacts the people according to the level of priority they are saved with and stops as soon as someone responds.

There is another, more modern, notification system available that comes in the form of smart alarms. They are integrated with your phone and other smart devices such as CCTV cameras and lights and are managed via an app with notifications sent to your phone.

PROFESSIONAL ALARM MONITORING

In addition to sounding an alarm as soon as the sensors pick up any unusual activity, monitored burglar alarms alert a professional monitoring centre, also known as the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), which is manned by experts who first verify the alarm and then notify the homeowners, nominated keyholders, or the police to take immediate action.

Professional burglar alarm monitoring uses secure alarm-signalling services such as DualCom and BT RedCare that operate via phone line and GSM, ensuring that the ARC is always notified of a break-in and that relevant action is always taken.

BEST SECURITY ALARM BRANDS

The security industry is one of the biggest industries in the world with top-class players offering a plethora of choices when it comes to security alarms.

A big factor in how effective your system will be is the hardware being used and its reliability. But with so many options out there, it can become quite overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs.

The brands that top our list for garage and shed alarm systems include:

Hikvision,
Texecom,
Scantronic,
Risco

These companies offer a wide variety of both wired and wireless systems, as well as monitored and unmonitored ones to help you detect every single intrusion and keep those pesky burglars away from your property.

PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION

The quality of the burglar alarm and the expertise with which it is installed are two crucial factors that determine the effectiveness of a system.

Having a professional service install your system can significantly reduce the risk of faults and issues since they are experts in the field and know what they are doing.

They can also help you assess the security risks and recommend the best systems along with the ideal positioning and placement of the alarm and its sensors.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

Alarm systems, just like any other electrical system, are prone to developing faults due to prolonged use such as battery issues, faulty sensors, loose cables and connections, and an unresponsive keypad.

Regular servicing will keep the alarms working as they should and check for any potential issues that might develop into faults if not rectified immediately.

Also, unresponsive and faulty alarms create vulnerabilities in the overall security of the property and provide burglars with the perfect opportunity to break-in undetected.

OTHER SECURITY MEASURES

While garage and shed alarms are effective when used as deterrents against intrusions and burglaries, other security measures can be taken to reinforce their effectiveness. They include:

GOOD QUALITY LOCKS

Good quality locks are your first line of defence against intrusions and, coupled with a strong door, they act as an obstruction for burglars trying to break-in.

It is always a good idea to install heavy-duty anti-snap garage and shed door locks coupled with secure bolts and padlocks to add an extra layer of security.

The sturdiness of the door will also be a huge factor in how easily they are to bypass, therefore, you must use strong materials such as wood, uPVC, and composite, reinforce them using frames, and make sure that they adhere to the British Security Standards and carry the BSI Kitemark and PAS 24 accreditations.

Since windows are also one of the main access points into a garage or shed, they must remain locked at all times and reinforced using strong unbreakable material.

CCTV CAMERAS

CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) cameras are a simple yet effective solution of keeping an eye on every inch of your property without having to be physically present there.

They can be used in garages and sheds along with burglar alarms to not just deter intruders but also help identify and catch them through recorded footage.

The monitoring and recording features are what makes CCTV cameras one of the best security measures since no one wants to commit a crime and get recorded on camera.

This fear of being recorded and eventually getting identified and caught makes burglars and intruders stay as far away as possible from properties under CCTV surveillance.

There are various types of CCTV cameras to choose from for your garage and shed. The most popular ones include bullet, dome, C-mount, PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom), day/night, infrared/night vision, network/IP, wired, wireless, and high definition (HD) CCTV cameras.

Choosing the best one for your shed depends on several factors including the camera’s resolution, the field of view, placement, power supply, budget, and additional features that include professional CCTV monitoring, smartphone notifications, remote access, and two-way communication.

While all property owners are allowed to use CCTV cameras for security purposes, if you intend to place one outside your property near the shed or garage, there are certain CCTV laws that you must abide by.

According to the Data Protection laws, CCTV cameras must be privacy-friendly and positioned in such a way as to respect other people’s privacy.

If the areas under surveillance are part of a shared space or the neighbour’s property, the intrusion must be minimised by using privacy masking and filters.

Also, your use of CCTV cameras must be as transparent as possible to the people around you. Neighbours must be informed and a clear sign must be put up informing people that the area is under surveillance.

SECURITY LIGHTS

No criminal likes to be in the spotlight, which is why you must illuminate the garage and shed using security lights leaving no blind spots and dark areas for the burglars to hide in.

You may opt for LED bulbs with motion sensors that are efficient, easy to install, and highly durable, in addition to lighting up instantly as soon as someone comes under their range.

Also, you may install light timers that can be set to automatically turn on during the evening or before it starts to get dark.

You wouldn’t have to worry about manually turning on the lights every night, and they would also be extremely useful for when you are away and wish to give burglars the illusion that you are home by having them turned on every single night without fail.

It is also a good idea to integrate the security lights with the burglar alarm system so that every time the alarm gets triggered, the lights automatically turn on. This way, while the alarm will make a loud noise to attract attention towards them, the security lights will quite literally put the burglars in the spotlight.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

We are professionals working in the security industry for over 40 years and our vast experience enables us to understand the various needs and requirements of different types of properties including home garages and sheds.

We provide a comprehensive security solution that includes not just professional installation of security systems but also their monitoring, maintenance, and repair.

We are SSAIB approved installers and follow all the best practices in the industry. We do not compromise on quality and install only high-quality, state-of-the-art security equipment.

We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre using Dualcom and BT Redcare signalling, which is the most secure alarm monitoring system and the largest supplier of intelligent alarm signalling services in the UK.

We understand the importance of having to regularly maintain security systems since the inability to do so might result in serious faults and consequent vulnerabilities.

We provide professional maintenance checks and reminders for when the checks are due to help you stay compliant with the law, and work fast to restore your security systems to excellent condition.

We also have the resources and capability to manage national contracts for multi-site companies and can offer a variety of services including burglar alarms, CCTV systems, door entry/access control systems, fire alarms, locksmiths services, and safe and vault engineering throughout the UK as part of a national contract.

Photo by Marina Khrapova on Unsplash