How to Prevent Shed Burglaries

When it comes to home security, people usually focus all their energy towards protecting their houses and keeping the valuables inside them safe.

In doing so, they tend to overlook their sheds and garages thinking they won’t be targeted by criminals. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong.

Sheds are used as storage spaces for garden tools and equipment, and items that are too big or not suitable for indoor storage. These might be mundane items for homeowners but are valuable nonetheless.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the most common items stolen from sheds include bikes, lawnmowers, sports equipment, power tools, and garden tools.

In addition to finding valuable equipment that can easily be sold off for money, burglars target sheds to look for tools to help them break into houses.

You would think that burglars come equipped with all the necessary tools to help them successfully break and enter, but that is not the case.

Most burglars don’t carry any equipment because a) it can be a hassle, and b) it might bring unnecessary attention towards them.

Imagine someone making their way into your property with a ladder. It would be highly suspicious, putting everyone on alert.

What burglars do is try to sneak into the shed to look for handy tools that they can easily use to break locks, doors, and climb to the top floor.

Your inability to secure your shed and the contents inside it can give burglars a chance to use your equipment against you.

Burglaries are already extremely distressing for the victims, not just affecting them financially but also emotionally and mentally. To top that, finding out that you unknowingly helped some criminals break into your house is just something you may never get over.

To avoid that from happening, it is crucial to keep all parts of your property safe, including the shed. Read on to find out how to prevent shed burglaries and keep the contents inside them safe from being used or stolen:

LOCATION OF THE SHED

Sheds are built either attached to the main property or as a standalone structure. In any case, their security is just as important as that of the rest of the property.

They must be located in such a way as to not garner too much attention from passers-by on the street, while also not being too far away from the house either.

The best location for a shed is where it is easily visible from the house so that even if someone attempts to break in, they won’t be able to do it without getting noticed.

FIX STRUCTURAL WEAKNESSES

Burglars are looking for opportunities where you and your property are in a vulnerable state since it gives them an edge over you and reduces their chances of getting caught.

One of the first things that they look for when choosing a house to target is any structural weaknesses, and the same goes for shed burglaries.

Weak doors, broken windows, loose boards, rotten wood, and a damaged exterior provide little defence against intruders. As is obvious, they make the shed an even more lucrative target.

In addition to that, most small sheds are made in a way that they can easily be lifted up to access the belongings inside them.

To prevent any structural weaknesses from turning into opportunities for burglars, you must thoroughly inspect your shed and look for damages and obvious weak points.

Anchor the shed to the ground using L-brackets so that it cannot be lifted by anyone or blown away by gusty winds.

Make a list of all the areas that need attention and get them fixed right away. You may also seek professional help to ensure all risks are taken care of.

If the damages are beyond repair and you can see your property in a compromised state because of it, it is best to invest in a new shed according to your budget.

GOOD QUALITY LOCKS

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that 67% of burglars break in through a door. What comes as a shock is that 21% of them don’t even have to “break-in”. The doors are unlocked, and they just walk in.

Keeping the doors locked is probably the first and most obvious security measure one can take. In addition to keeping the shed doors locked, the quality of the locks used must also be given some serious attention.

Weak locks are extremely easy to break using a few tools. A technique known as lock-snapping is popular among thieves and intruders where they simply snap the lock and break-in.

The type and quality of the lock is a huge determining factor in how easily burglars can bypass the locking mechanism.

Instead of using the standard euro cylinder locks, which can be easily snapped, you must invest in good quality anti-snap locks installed by a professional locksmith that are sturdy and help keep unauthorised access under control.

SECURE THE WINDOWS

What would you do if you were locked outside of your shed? You would check for any unlocked windows or try to pry them open. A burglar would do the same.

Since windows are also one of the access points into a shed, they must be reinforced using strong unbreakable material and always kept locked.

Windows are usually made of glass which is why it is a good idea to install a glass-break detector near them to be alerted if someone tries to smash them open.

Also, all valuable items must be kept away from the windows and where they are not in plain view of someone peeping through them.

Putting expensive belongings and shed equipment on display might entice potential burglars and give them the incentive that they are looking for.

To ensure maximum protection, you can obscure the windows using blinds, heavy curtains, or stick-on opaque security sheets to block everything out completely.

SECURITY LIGHTS

When you imagine a shed, it is usually in a dark, far corner of the property where the main house lights don’t reach.

This gives burglars a chance to sneak in undetected, especially during the night when the darkness of the night coupled with non-existent lights provides them with a perfect cover.

No criminal likes to be in the spotlight, which is why illuminating the shed and the area around it will prove to be a great deterrent against shed burglaries.

You may opt for LED bulbs with motion sensors, which are efficient, easy to install, and highly durable, in addition to lighting up instantly as soon as someone enters the premises, making it easy to keep a watch.

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’re home by having them turned on every single night, without fail.

PRACTICE GOOD GARDEN SAFETY

Gardens and sheds are usually connected and, where there is a shed, there is most likely to be a garden too.

To ensure your shed remains safe from burglaries, you need to take the necessary steps to secure your garden as well.

They are the first point of access into your home and shed, which is why securing them is directly related to the security of the entire property.

There are simple ways in which you may not just increase your shed security, but also add to the aesthetics of your property.

Securing the perimeter of the garden by installing gates and fences is the first form of physical deterrent against burglaries. It is crucial that to be effective, the perimeter protection is made of sturdy materials and is kept locked at all times.

Another thing to note here is that, in addition to looking distasteful, huge unkept trees can provide a cover for burglars to hide out, which is why they must always be kept short and properly trimmed.

Thorny plants can also be strategically placed around the base of the fence’s perimeter, or underneath windows, all the while adding to the look of your home.

Some of the most common plants to be used as hedge barriers include Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose, Holly, and Red Pyracantha.

GET A DOG

Do you need a reason to get a dog? They are lovable creatures and truly man’s best friend.

They not just provide unconditional love to their owners, but also act as effective deterrents against burglaries and intrusions.

Certain dog breeds are ideal to be used as guard dogs such as the German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, Akita, and Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Used over centuries to guard all kinds of properties, dogs are intelligent creatures who, if trained properly, can pick up on discrepancies in their surroundings such as certain words, voices, and body language, and can evaluate situations to understand what is a threat and what isn’t.

They are extremely alert and responsive and, if triggered, security dogs not just bark at criminals but also attack them if need be.

Even if they don’t attack, the mere sight of their strong jaw and sharp claws is enough to scare away anyone trying to cause the owners and their property any harm.

Keeping a dog and training it properly will not just ensure the protection of your home, but also the shed, garage, garden, and neighbourhood for that matter.

CONTROL ACCESS

Controlling unauthorised access is the number one solution to keeping intruders and burglars at bay, and you need to be extremely mindful of who you let inside your property.

It is common practice to let workers and contractors inside you home when there is work to be done around the property.

However, always make sure you hire someone you trust and never leave any strangers unsupervised. A few preventive measures can go a long way.

Make sure you ask the contractors to return the keys at the end of the day and perform a thorough security check of all the doors and windows after they leave.

If you are using a digital access control system, do not give out your access cards and codes for them to use. Instead, grant them temporary access by making a new access code and delete it as soon as their work has been completed.

BURGLAR ALARMS

If you use an alarm system for your home, you can extend it to include your shed as well. This way, not only does your home remain protected from intrusions, but also the outside area including the garden and shed.

At times, even with the above-mentioned precautions, burglars may still manage to make their way into your property which is why you need something to scare them off for good.

Thankfully, technology is on our side in the form of security alarm systems that work using sensors that get triggered as soon as any movement is detected in the area.

Placed near the shed door and windows, these motion sensors sound an alarm and alert the homeowners whenever an intrusion is detected.

There are various types of burglar alarm systems that include bells-only, dialler systems, and monitored alarms, all of which come in both wired and wireless variants.

The type of system you choose for your shed depends on your requirements and the availability of electricity, a working phone line, and a good internet connection.

CCTV CAMERAS

It is impossible to keep an eye on every corner of your property, especially the shed which is usually located at a distance from the main house.

This not just allows burglars to target your shed, but also makes homeowners anxious and keeps them on edge at all times.

A very simple yet effective solution for this dilemma is to use CCTV cameras on all vulnerable areas of your property.

As is obvious, burglars hate attention and the idea of being monitored and recorded doesn’t sit well with them.

Experts believe that as many as 67% of domestic burglaries could be prevented if people had CCTV cameras installed on their properties.

CCTV cameras monitor and record events happening around the premises and display them in real-time or saved to be viewed later.

They not just record and monitor but also provide evidence to help easily identify the perpetrators, increasing their chances of getting caught.

There are various types of CCTV cameras to choose for your 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 monitoring, smartphone notifications, remote access, and two-way communication.

However, certain legal requirements have to be met if you intend to place a CCTV camera outside your property. You must make sure that you angle it in a way that it doesn’t infringe on your neighbour’s or passers-by’s privacy.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

Sheds, whether built on residential properties or farms, require the maximum level of security to keep the valuables inside them safe.

You wouldn’t want to wake up one day to find out your precious BBQ grill is no longer there or the new lawnmower you bought just a few weeks ago is missing, would you?

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.

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 in the security.

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.

Contact us right away to make your properties secure from all kinds of intrusions and burglaries. Our experienced professionals can also visit your property to assess your requirements and suggest the best solution for your individual needs!

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash