Police forces are urging people to take extra precautions to secure their sheds and garages due to a spate of break-ins.

In this post we revisit and update our outbuilding winterisation and security recommendations.

Dorset police officers are currently investigating a wave of more than 20 shed and garage break-ins that took place over just two months since August. Thieves got away with valuable bikes, e-bikes and power tools stolen from properties in the Parkstone, Branksome and Canford Cliffs areas near Bournemouth. Criminals broke into the outbuildings by cutting door locks and forcing doors open with crowbars.

Police officers in the area are urging residents to make certain they secure their sheds and garages and take steps to not offer easy targets for opportunist criminals.

Why You Must Pay Attention to Shed and Garage Security

Research conducted by the insurance provider Comparethemarket.com shows how one in four (27%) of UK garage owners and 16% of shed owners have been burgled. Their research highlights how non-connected buildings are often targeted by criminals.

It`s noted that the value of items stolen from sheds and garages has escalated over the past 10 years, reflecting the value of what people store in their outbuildings. Over the year from April 2019 to March 2020 almost a fifth of burglaries resulted in the the loss of items worth in excess of £1000 which represents an increase of almost 20% when compared with 2010. Their research points out that 18% of garage owners and 6% of shed owners store between £5000 and £10,000 worth of goods in their outbuildings.

And 19% of garage owners along with 24% of shed owners acknowledge how they don’t take additional security measures to prevent burglary. Here are just a small selection of shed and garage crimes reported over recent weeks.

Stolen Bikes Tracked Down to Poland

In our recent blog post on bicycle security we reported how an elite cyclist lost £36K worth of valuable bikes to opportunist thieves who had targeted his families garage where they were stored. Luckily, his own investigations determined the bikes had been shipped to Poland where they were offered for sale. So, at great expense to himself, he was able to retrieve them.

This crime reflects how opportunistic criminals target what are often seen as easily accessible outbuildings, garages and sheds in the hope they will find items they can easily sell-on. Comparethemarket.com research shows that tools and work materials are the primary group of items taken by criminals followed by garden furniture and then bikes, miscellaneous items and sports equipment.

Dad`s Ashes Stolen from Garage

In a particularly horrendous burglary thieves are reported to have stolen a man’s ashes from the families garage in Bury. 

The family had planned to scatter the father’s ashes, who had died aged 72 in January, at the nearby Woodbank Cricket Club where he was a much-loved odd job man. Thieves broke into the garage and stole a number of expensive power tools from locked cabinets which they prised open. But they also took a bag that contained the box in which the man’s ashes were stored, ready to be scattered at the cricket club.

Police are appealing for any information that will help them recover the dad’s ashes.

Motorbike Stolen From Shed

A valuable motorcycle is reported to have been stolen from a shed in Bridgend, Donegal. The theft is reported to have taken place between September 5th and 11th while the homeowner was away. The theft was discovered upon their return and local police are appealing for information and requesting that anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area should contact them.

Valuable Items Stolen from Shed

A lawnmower along with chainsaws are reported to have been stolen from a garden shed in Cookley on Thursday September 21st. Local police are asking anyone with information to contact them or Crimestoppers.

These recent crime reports demonstrate how criminals are purposely targeting garages and sheds where they know they will find valuable items they can easily resell on the black market.

Our Previous Recommendations

We routinely encourage our readers to pay attention to the security of their sheds, garages and outbuildings. Here are some of our previous posts:

• How to Improve Shed Hinge Security. Door hinges on sheds and outbuildings can be vulnerable to attack so its worth making certain these are as secure as possible.
• Burglaries Prompt Shed and Garage Security Warnings from Police. Valuable advice on taking stock of what’s stored in your shed or garage and bolstering security.
• Why You Need to Secure Your Sheds and Garages. Further advice and recommendations to make sheds and garages more secure.
• How to Winterise Your Shed or Outbuilding.  Important recommendations to protect sheds and outbuildings from the ravages of winter and make certain they are as secure as possible.

How to Secure a Shed

Securing a garden shed can be challenging. Often constructed from relatively flimsy wood, metal or plastic, sheds are naturally less secure than robust brick and stone buildings. But, as noted, they often contain many valuable items that make them attractive targets for criminals who will sometimes use the tools and ladders they find in a shed to gain entry into the main home.

Carefully Consider Your Shed Location

The location of your shed is vitally important. You need it to be accessible to you but ideally concealed from being easily seen from the street. Choose a location that can be seen from the house and make certain it can’t be seen from the road outside.

Anchor the Shed and Strengthen the Structure

There have been reports of sheds being broken into by criminals who lift the shed roof or even raise the whole shed if its not anchored to the ground. Firmly securing the shed to the ground and / or to an adjacent wall is a valuable yet simple security precaution. The shed structure, including how the roof is fastened in place, can be beneficially bolstered using strong metal brackets and screws.

Replace Shed Door Hinges

The door hinges on sheds and outbuildings can be points of weakness, commonly targeted by thieves who will simply rip them off using a crowbar. Our previously referenced post on door hinge security provides valuable guidance including using high quality hinges and replacing hinge screws with through-bolts.

Improve the Shed Door Lock

High quality hasps along with strong padlocks are widely recognised as the most optimum way to lock and secure a shed door. Some recommend the use of multiple locks on a shed door but it has been pointed out that multiple padlocks clearly suggest there is something of value locked away inside. 

Use a Shed Bar to Boost Door Security

Shed door security bars are a highly effective way to significantly enhance the robustness of shed doors. Manufactured from thick, high quality steel with galvanised, weather-proof brackets shed door security bars fit right across the shed door, firmly attached to the shed frame. They present a formidable barrier to any opportunist criminal.

Obscure Windows

If a shed or garage has windows they can present a security weakness. Criminals will peer inside to see if there is anything worth stealing and if they see a bike or valuable power tools this may encourage them to break in. Obscuring the shed or garage windows is therefore a valuable security tactic.

Install Window Bars

Obscuring windows to prevent people from peering in is an obvious precaution but its also vital to pay attention to window security. Like shed doors, if shed windows can be opened then the hinges need to be the highest quality and firmly attached to the shed frame using through bolts. Another valuable window security precaution is to install window security bars. These affordable and easily installed security bars are designed to work with windows of various sizes.

Implement Security Lighting

Criminals like to do what they do unseen and a high proportion of burglaries apparently take place on weekdays between midnight and 6a.m. Security lighting, triggered by motion, is a powerful deterrent. These lights are very affordable, easily installed and battery operated motion sensitive lights can be used on sheds and outbuildings that don’t have mains power.

Install CCTV

CCTV systems have become incredibly affordable in recent years and today’s cameras can be installed by almost anyone, without the need to employ professional installers. Combined with motion sensitive security lighting and appropriate warning signage, CCTV can be enough to keep the criminals away.

Install an Alarm

Another powerful security enhancement for sheds, garages and outbuildings is the installation of an alarm system. The shed or outbuilding alarm may be connected to an alarm system on the primary residence but the alarm can also be a simple stand-alone device such as a mini PIR alarm that can be remotely armed and disarmed as required.

Secure Valuable Items

When reviewing and strengthening shed, garage and outbuilding security its important to be aware of the valuable items often targeted by burglars, such as power tools. As well as strengthening all aspects of the structure`s security the items inside the shed or garage should be further secured to prevent them from being taken.

Lockable storage cabinets, drawers and cupboards provide a further line of defence to keep valuable power tools and other items secure. Larger valuable items including bicycles, motorbikes, lawnmowers and garden furniture, should securely locked to immovable anchors inside the shed or garage. And all items of value should be security marked to make them far less appealing to thieves and easily identifiable if they are ever stolen.

How to Secure a Garage Door

All of the previously listed recommendations to make a shed more secure also apply to garages. If motorbikes, scooters or other bulky valuables such as ride-on mowers, are stored in a garage they should, as recommended, be locked to immovable anchor points using high security chains and padlocks. All valuable tools and equipment should be securely stored in locked cabinets, drawers and containers and everything should be security tagged to make it less appealing to thieves.

But a query often raised regarding garage security is: how to secure a garage door.

Securing a garage door starts with the garage door selection and installation. Using a reputable garage door supplier and installer is a primary recommendation as a high quality garage door that’s properly installed is the first step toward preventing a break-in.

Importantly, garage doors should be locked yet many people overlook this basic security precaution. Adding an extra locking device such as a Sold Secure approved Garage Door Defender with a shackleless padlock is a highly effective garage door security enhancement for up-and-over garage doors. For Roller Shutter garage doors you need our Sold Secure approved Roller Shutter Door Lock.

Make Certain You Have Adequate Insurance

Sadly, many of those who become victims of shed or garage thieves have only then discovered they were under-insured or didn’t have an accurate record of what was in their shed or garage and therefore what thieves had stolen.

Its worthwhile planning for the worst and being prepared. While a shed or garage structure might be covered for fire and damage the contents may not be covered for theft. Its therefore vitally important to make certain your insurance policy covers your shed and garage contents and you have an accurate record of what these items are, what they are worth and you know what it will cost you to replace them if they are stolen.

Take Advantage of Neighbourhood Watch

We’ve previously covered the value of Neighbourhood Watch schemes and how to set one up where you live.

• Why We All Need Neighbourhood Watch
• How to Setup Neighbourhood Watch in Your Community

Feedback from offenders reflects how they would refrain from attempting to break into a property if they saw a neighbourhood watch sign. So its definitely worthwhile getting involved with the scheme if a Neighbourhood Watch doesn’t already exist in your area.

If you have any questions about shed or garage security - or if you have any special requirements remember that we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 092348 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.