Workshop Break in

Edited By JasonB on 31/12/2013 16:16:32

hi thanks for all the comments got a alarm today and some steel make a door bar

I am still gutted the someone has been in my space I was surprised that it was only the compressor that went as I had 2 Stuart engines on the bench.

this the door bar I am going to fabricate and mark all my tools  if possible

ty kevin

Edited By Kevin Bennett on 30/12/2013 12:45:02

Bummer, strange only one specific item, pinched to order?

Paul is right.

Some years ago I was in charge of the workshops at an engineering company in a large town in north Northants. We suffered several break ins each year. It seemed strange to me that items stolen appeared to be selected at random and brand new items such a Bosch power drill were left alone. When I raised this with the workshop staff they were incredulous that I did not know that only things that the thieves had orders for would be stolen. The reason being they moved the items on within minutes of leaving the building so if the police, who knew all the local villains, caught up with them they would not have any stolen property "in stock" to incriminate them. I was assured no regular local thief would take anything speculatively.

Hi dreadfully sorry to hear of this

Bob

Edited By JasonB on 31/12/2013 16:19:48

If you fit a bar like that make sure that inside the hasps are boted through a full length of angle iron not just that little plank. A crowbar will make a lot of mess anyway so if you put the hasp bolts through strong springs on the inside instead of hard bolted the levering will cause say 1/4 movement of the bolt. This is enough to activate the microswitch for the alarm. However the presence of the bar will probably divert the crowbar assault to the flimsy panelling.

Kevin if you will excuse me for saying so your door bar does not look like it would deter break and enter at all. If a crowbar is applied to the hinges or the top right or bottom right corners the door can be easily opened or broken.

The door itself needs to be at least two layers of strong plywood with a 2 x 3 timber frame between, made like a wall, all screwed and glued, to withstand serious break in attempts. if sheetmetal can be added between the ply layers so much the better. One or two 1/2" thicknesses of solid timber panels as shown in your pic will not survive crowbars and axes. Hinges that only have their barrels exposed, not the leaves and screws exposed, should be used. Hinges should be heavy stainless steel and be fitted with 6 screws at least 3" into solid timber each side.

For shed walls 1/2" or 5/8" thick plywood is far stronger and break-in resistant than individual wall boards or thin plastic/MDF wall panels.

The locks to be used ideally have a bolt that engages the timber frame of the building at three points - top, bottom and centre of door with hardened stainless steel bolts. a simple cam plate and swing handle with a covered padlock or commercial key lock will operate the three bolts.

Inside the builiding be sure to screw on sheetmetal plates to rafters from the top wall plate, and screw down the roof sheeting near the eaves, to prevent the roof being pried upward. Steel bars or mesh should be fitted over all windows, preferably with security screws or hidden screw heads.

A good alarm system, the type monitored by an alarm company staffed 24/7/365 is a must these days for house and sheds and may get you discounted home insurance rates.

The above is still not a guarantee determined thieves will not get in, but it will slow them down and cause enough noise while they are attempting entry to get attention from neighbours etc. to call police or for you to fire a shotgun into the air or start a loud alarm buzzer wailing.

At the very least, the precautions will make weaker sheds nearby better targets for thieves than yours.

Hope the info helps. JD

Or advertise to the theives that you have something worth pinching? I would try to make your security features invisible. Perhaps add a movement detector with a recording of a large dog barking?

Russell.

Russell, all the measures I mentioned, with the exception of the outside window bars/screens, are invisible from the outside, so I don't understand your "advertising" comment.

If the window screens or bars are fitted from inside, none of the security measures I mentioned would be visible.

The barking dog recording will fool no one and is an outdated idea. Equipment for a live monitored security system would be about the same money to install, plus a monthly monitoring fee. Video monitored security with automatic police calling is the best system but is quite expensive and automatic police calling is only available in cities or large towns. A real dog is still a good theft deterrent, if trained well to detect and deter intruders.

If you look into motorcycle or car magazines in the UK you will find many articles on securing valuable vehicles - these are far more theft-prone than most models and especially tools since they may be spotted on the roads and followed home to their garages. The vehicle-collecting community is far ahead of the model community in implementing security measures, and it is well worth looking into their practices.

JD

hi I looked at one on eBay under shed alarms barking dog it is £44.00

I also do not have any windows as when I had it built I had a big debate as the supplier said it only comes with windows but I got what I wanted in the end.

The police did say they need a very good description form any defects like missing bolts , cap or hex cracks and scratches ser No and quirky things . when they do a raid on someone's house you stand a better chance of getting it back as there data base searches for the info you have given them

I has a 3 page statement just for the compressor

ty Kevin

"The vehicle-collecting community is far ahead of the model community in implementing security measures, and it is well worth looking into their practices."

Because they have quite a bit of experience, sadly. I would listen to the advice others on the forum who have experience of this. I can assure you it is not a pleasant experience. I have lost thousands of pounds to theft and in my experience you cannot stop them, slow them down, make the target unattractive or disguise the spoils but you can't stop the determined thief.

Sadly and not something you want to hear but I will say, from experience, they will be back. You need to look at at the issue from the scrote's point of view and if I was looking to break into the shed with the large hasp and bar on the door I would nip around the back with a crowbar and start peeling the planking off . Look at the issue from the perspective of: " I want to take this shed down quickly and reduce it to a pile of rubble so I can put a new one up - where would I start?" type angle.

Window? Brick springs to mind.
Asbestos roof? Another brick.
Nothing whatsoever stopping you from storing Razor Wire (my personal favourite) directly under the roof out of harms way and up a height so nobody could get hurt? now is there?

I distinctly remember giving advice in another thread on here about how to layer plywood with roofing felt and fencing mesh to create an easily built lightweight outer skin that stops both chainsaw and Stihl saw.

Not letting anyone around and into your place is also good advice, you know, like how you keep the missus out keep others out!

I have three vary large unruly dogs and enjoy a local reputation of being a complete nutter.

Edited By JasonB on 31/12/2013 16:15:24

Is it actually a wise thing to do, 'Pointing out' this sort of research advice available on a public forum?
Whist you and many of us here may know about it, many won't and you've now given scrotes another valuable tool in their armoury they may not have thought about ............ Well Done!

Hardly doing Tony any favours or anyone else for that matter either by highlighting the issue of his location just to score "LOL on you 'Tony' " type petty points, I'm surprised the Mod's have allowed this to go uncensored, bloody irresponsible in my view considering the nature of this thread!

John

Apologies to all, I won't bother in future.

"Whist you and many of us here may know about it, many won't and you've now given scrotes another valuable tool in their armoury they may not have thought about ............ Well Done!"

I can assure you, with some level of authority, the scrotes have their own forum, they won't be looking on here for "tips" to further their "careers". Nor will they be looking for who has the best workshop and where. No, there are far simpler ways to find out who has the biggest collection of tools/cars/motorbikes etc. In their locality.

For instance, who on here has given their real address when buying from "large High Street Tool Retailer?"

Not in a million years would I.

graham.

Hello all, my sympathies to the OP. I would imagine most theft now is drugs related and until something is done about their use and availability, it will become worse. First, intercept, poison and redistribute a few tons of it Second, get tough, once and for all, with the people who deal with it ie, kill them. This might help a bit.

yes I think you a correct I was also told it is probably in a shipping container on it's way to Poland

I also today put the gate and new fences up to 1.9 meters today and fitted a new security lights.

this has also made me look at the security of the house as it has made me paranoid about them getting in to my property

Hello Kevin,

I am very sorry to hear your unfortunate news. A fellow club member from a previous club a few years back was working on his engine in his workshop, nipped in the house to make a drink and heard a loud thud. He poked his head out of the door to see what the noise was only to see two young men and his steam engine in his own wheelie bin being wheeled away. He gave them chase and I believe the bin was abandoned and he got his engine back. Clearly an opportunist thief but an unpleasant experience all the same.

I personally think a balance needs to be struck when securing a workshop. You want to make sure it is secure so a passing tea leaf doesn't make easy work of your locks and is in you workshop in a matter of seconds but likewise you don't want it secured like Fort Knox and make the thief think it is "really worth his while" to get in because anything with this much security must be good! Being discrete is always good. Covering the engine when in transport and keeping it covered when getting it out of the car into the workshop/house. No one needs to see what is it when you’re not at the club.

I think having 3 locks on the door to the workshop, top middle and bottom is subtle enough to not rouse too much attention but more effort than it’s worth to see what’s available. Covered windows by a wire mesh or panelling is also worth exploring. An alarm inside is also a good idea but bear in mind would anyone hear it or be able to respond if it went off? Most people's workshops would be in a shed so having a shed with clip locking panels rather than overlapping is also a good idea as overlapping panels can easily be lifted unfortunately.

I also think insurance is a good idea in this day and age. Insurers like Walker Midgley offer reasonable rates and thinking about cost of some of the steam engines people own compared to the yearly cost of insurance is an easy justification to make.

I think the bottom line is that if someone is determined to get to a particular item, whether it is in a garage, shed or house, they will probably find a way to get to it. Deterrents such as locks and alarms help deter the opportunist thief and by keeping a low profile will minimise others knowing what you have thus minimising theft to order or being targeted.

Daniel