Sheds are a convenient location to store items like gardening tools, lawnmowers, and bikes. However, sheds are also a focus for thieves looking to steal valuable equipment quickly from your backyard.
If you want to ensure your items remain safe in your yard, you need to emphasize shed security. This article will focus on 15 shed security tips to secure, which include:
- Improve The Door Locks
- Cover The Windows
- Install Security Lighting
- Reinforce the Structure’s Frame
- Replace Plastic Roofing Materials
- Install Security Cameras
- Upgrade The Door Hinges
- Move It to Safer Location
- Use Strong Foundation Anchors
- Add an Alarm System
- Don’t Leave Tools Out in Yard
- Get a Security Dog
- Secure Your Backyard With a Fence
- Invest in Home Insurance
- Keep an Eye on Third-Party Access
Thieves look for easy opportunities to steal items, so if you have a well-protected shed, it will stop them in their tracks. In most cases, you will only need to do a few upgrades to your shed to stop a burglar.
Keep reading further to learn 15 practical shed security tips that you can use to stop potential thieves from stealing your precious belongings.
Why Should You Secure Your Shed?
If you are like most homeowners, you don’t focus on the security of your garden shed as much as on your home. When a criminal enters your property, they are looking for easy targets that allow them to grab valuable items quickly.
According to official crime statistics, the average theft lasts 8-10 minutes. A thief can open a shed door and search for the most valuable items in this timeframe. Whether you have a bicycle or a lawnmower, these items can result in you losing thousands of dollars.
15 Effective Shed Security Tips
1. Improve Shed Door Lock
When you purchase a stock garden shed, the manufacturer typically equips them with a weak door lock that needs replacement. Responsible homeowners should upgrade the shed lock with a quality alternative.
There is a wide range of door lock options, such as:
- Rim Lock
- Pad Bolt Lock
- Hasp and Weatherproof Padlock
- Shed Door Bars
It’s best to avoid locks with a large shackle that can be easily cut with several tools. Most experienced thieves can easily bypass a lock with bolt cutters, so you should give them no room to utilize them
2. Cover The Windows
While windows are an excellent way to let natural light into garden sheds, they make your valuable items easily visible to thieves. If you want to prevent burglars from seeing into your shed, you should add a window cover.
There are a few ways to cover your windows, with the most effective being adding blackout window covers. Additionally, you can have frosted windows that allow natural light but don’t allow people to see inside the shed.
3. Install Security Lighting
A well-lit property will deter criminals and give them nowhere to hide. If you want to boost the security of your home, you should add motion-sensor security lights. These lights will alert you if there is any movement near your shed.
You can install battery-powered lights that require no wiring to work for an easy installation option. You can install these security lights with mounting screws and attach them to key areas around your shed.
4. Reinforce the Shed Frame
If you have an aging wooden shed, a determined intruder may look to destroy the structure to reach the items inside. Upgrading the shed structure will improve its strength and keep intruders out of your shed.
A simple way to improve the structure’s integrity is by installing a reinforced frame made from metal struts. You can also boost the strength of the walls by adding a second layer of plywood to the shed’s interior.
5. Replace Plastic Roofing Materials
Some shed designs come with semi-transparent plastic roofing that can be an easy entry point for burglars. If you are serious about the security of your garden shed, you should replace the roofing with metal roofing panels.
These metal roofing panels are more difficult to break and require specialized tools to destroy. You want to avoid having a noticeable weak point in your shed, whether it’s the shed roofing, walls, or door.
6. Install Security Cameras
One of the core principles of an effective home security plan is installing security cameras. Having a security camera makes identifying criminals easier and allows you to have solid evidence of the crime.
There are numerous security system options on the market, but you should focus on installing security cameras rated for outdoors. You can count on your security camera system to monitor your home through rain or shine.
7. Upgrade The Door Hinges
If you purchased a budget-friendly shed, the hinges are often an area that thieves can easily exploit. A criminal can drill out the screws that hold up the door and quickly gain entry with a power drill.
To ensure thieves can’t enter the shed, you should use tamper-proof wood screws. These specialized screws include a unique drill bit that is hard to find and will likely not be in the tool kit of a burglar.
8. Move It to Safer Location
When installing a garden storage shed on your property, location is important to consider. A shed should be located in an area that is hard for a passerby to notice and easy for you to see from your home.
If you choose a location in a secluded area, a burglar can easily steal items from your garden shed without alerting anyone. Take some time to think of a position in your home that offers the maximum amount of safety.
9. Use Strong Floor Anchors
You can install heavy-duty floor anchors to your shed flooring for valuable items like lawnmowers, motorcycles, or trailers. These anchors act as a sturdy place that you can use to chain your belongings.
Whether you have a wooden or concrete floor, a ground anchor should be installed in the flooring that is difficult to pull out. If a thief pulls on the chain, the floor anchor will ensure your items go nowhere.
10. Add an Alarm System
The most effective security measure you can take to protect your wooden shed is installing an alarm system on your property. An alarm system will alert you if an unauthorized person is trying to gain access to your shed.
There are five types of alarm systems available, which are:
- Electric Current Alarm Systems: You can install these alarms on a door frame and receive noise alerts if someone is opening the door without permission.
- Wired Alarm Systems: These systems connect to a landline phone and transmit signals to a security monitoring center.
- Wireless Alarm Systems: To avoid extensive wiring, you can connect an alarm system to a wireless network to protect your shed.
- Unmonitored Alarm Systems: These alarms are a cost-effective option that alerts the presence of someone with noise and light triggers.
- Monitored Alarm Systems: With the help of a professional monitoring company, the alarm can trigger the response of emergency services.
11. Don’t Leave Tools Out in Yard
Along with precautionary measures, you should be mindful of your belongings. It only takes one time when you have your guard down for a burglar to enter your property and steal items.
Whenever you use a tool or piece of equipment, you should put it away and not leave it in your backyard. By ensuring your items are stored properly, you can reduce the chances of losing items.
12. Get a Security Dog
Owning a security dog is a great way to deter thieves and protect your home from being targeted. Most dogs will bark if they sense danger and scare off potential intruders looking for an easy target.
While a trained security dog is the best method, you can also buy a large dog who can intimidate threats. However, this shouldn’t be your only crime deterrent, as some thieves aren’t scared of dogs.
13. Secure Your Backyard With a Fence
If you want to protect your home, you need to take a multi-step approach to secure garden sheds. One of the best ways to keep burglars out of your property is with a secure fence on the perimeter.
When you have a fence designed to stop burglars, you can have peace of mind knowing they don’t have easy access. With well-rounded security measures, you can stop criminals in their tracks.
Read More: What Can I Put On My Fence to Stop Burglars?
14. Invest in Home Insurance
Do you have a lot of valuable items in your wooden garden sheds? Protect your belongings by purchasing an insurance policy. This is an uncommon strategy, but it’s necessary if you live in an area with frequent property crime.
An insurance agent will determine the value of your gardening equipment and other items. Once they have an accurate value, they will give you an insurance policy to cover potential damages. Give this method a try if you have exhausted all other options.
15. Keep an Eye on Third-Party Access
Lastly, you should always be aware of those who enter your shed. If you have a contractor or friend enter your shed for something, you should typically accompany them to ensure they don’t affect security measures.
While a friend may not think about locking the shed after opening it, it can result in a costly mistake. Be aware of those who enter your garden shed because they may leave access points for criminals.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you are looking to secure your shed with the best quality locks, there are a few options you can choose from. One of the most secure options is a security bar, which fortifies the whole door with metal bars. For a more low-profile shed door lock, choosing a combination padlock is a good idea.
First, you should look for structural defects, such as rotten wood that can affect the structure. Second, you should inspect the roof to ensure it meets quality standards.
The final way to add extra security to your shed’s structure is with burglar-proof windows.
If you want the most secure shed, you should choose a metal option with a fully-framed door. You can easily secure the door with locks and have walls constructed from a heavy-duty metal plate. When a potential thief comes to destroy the shed, you will have the final word as they can’t enter it.
Conclusion
Protecting your garden storage doesn’t have to be a challenging task. With a trip to your local hardware store, you can gain the necessary tools to protect your shed. Your shed should be protected with multiple methods that are installed correctly.
Use security options like strong locks, structure upgrades, and security lights to keep crimes away from your property.