9 Garage & Workshop Security Tips

Tips for greater garage & workshop security!

Garage and workshop security tips!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #1)

Take photographs of all your equipment and stored items!

Take photos of the serial numbers, makes, and models. If every you have a burglary this will be a very important thing you will need to provide to Police and the insurance company! Keep the receipt for your stuff so you can show the purchased price and the age of the items that you purchased! Make sure that your insurance will cover the items in your shop. If not get a rider that will cover it! If you have a security system it will be really cheap to cover your stuff. And it’s a tax deduction. Check both your contractors insurance or homeowners policy to see if either cover your stuff! Store photos, receipts, and serial numbers in a fire proof safe in a separate location, like at home! Bolt that safe to the floor somewhere besides your master bedroom closet! That is the first place a burglar looks when he robs a home!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #2)

Mark your equipment using a UV marker or permanent marker!

Use your drivers license number as a way for Police to get your info if they recover your property. Items that are marked are harder to pawn off for cash, and if clearly marked may just be left behind. Marking property with UV allows there to be a marking that will most likely be overlooked should a criminal try to remove a visible marking! You can also engrave your ID number with an engraving tool to make it more permanent!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #3)

Install better locks on all the exterior doors!

Many locks can be bumped in just second with bump keys that are bought on the internet or are hand made. See the article and videos on “Lock Bumping” here! Lock bumping has become a serious problem that hurt you two ways. First it allows your building to be broken into quickly. Second it leaves no sign of a break in, making it hard to get paid through your insurance company! Most garages have one main door entrance, so installing one anti bump deadbolt lock will only cost you around $35! This is a great investment in securing your property!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #4)

Install a door reinforcement kit!

Upgrading your locks will do little for your garage or workshop security if the door can be kicked in. Door kicking has become the number one way that a burglar gets into a building! Most door frames will fail with just a single kick! There are many product out there to reinforce a door frame! See the article and videos on “Door Jamb Failure” here! If you opt to get just a lock side frame reinforcement kit than install longer 3″ screws in all the hinge side screw holes!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #5)

Install excellent lighting around your shop!

Lighting is a great deterrent that will chase off most intruders. Install your lighting out of reach or as high as possible. They make several types of motion activated lights now. The newer motion lights have a dimmer setting that stays on from dusk to dawn. When someone approaches the building they go to full brightness! With the advances in lighting technology you can get energy efficient bulbs or even led bulbs that are cheap to run! They also have many years of life in them.

Garage & workshop Security Tip #6)

Secure your windows!

Many garage windows are off to the side of the building and give an easy way in that is out of view of neighbors and roads! Personally since your not living there I would put a bar or two across each window! You don’t need anything fancy! An old bed rail cut down will work just fine to keep the bad guys out! If you have a few dollars you can get window security film which will keep the glass from being broken easily!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #7)

Secure the garage door!

The main garage door will be needed for a burglar to get your stuff out quickly and into a truck! Get a large anti bump pad lock and just click it over the track of the garage door. By doing this you keep the door from being lifted and stop this opening from being used! Also take a peek at the article on “Garage Break Ins” here!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #8)

Install a security system!

There is now a security system that is made for just this application! Cost starts at $200 and pro monitoring is just $15 per month! There are no contracts and the monitoring connects through the cellular towers! No phone or internet lines are needed. This system installs in 15 minutes and is completely wireless except for the power cord! For $200 you can cover two entry points! If you want a motion sensor add $30. If you have additional openings to secure add $15 per opening! Click here to “Customize Your Own System”! The main Page of my site will tell you more about this system & have demo videos! Click here “AlarmMySpace” for the videos! Make sure to secure the base station in a place that it will take at least 30 seconds to get to! This system will notify the alarm monitoring station 30 seconds after it is triggered! They will then call you and then you both should call the Police if it is an unknown alarm triggering. A call from the owner will be treated more seriously by the police than a call from the monitoring station alone!

Garage & workshop Security Tip #9)

Install a security camera!

They make wireless systems that can be installed and will record for seven days before repeating over the same hard drive. That means you install the wireless camera and DVR and then leave it be. There are no tapes or Cd’s to swap out! Plus they make an upgraded DVR system and service that allows you to monitor your garage or workshop from any computer or laptop! The above security system (Tip #8) will soon have an add on camera that will allow you to do this cheaper than getting a complete video surveillance system! However, if you have a few bucks and a good operation you may want to install a separate video surveillance system for greater security! Remember to secure the DVR unit somewhere it can’t be stolen or destroyed in the event or a burglary! Post a sign saying, “area under video surveillance”.

Here is a video of the SimpliSafe “NO CONTRACT, CELLULAR CONNECTED” security system that you can own and then monitor for $15 a month! You Can start & stop service as needed because you own the system! Don’t get stuck in a 3 year contract with those other guys!