Urgent! Suggestions for garage security please....

[Trabantdave]

Hi all,

I went round to the lock-up where I keep my Minor, and when I arrived I got that awful sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.... Both padlock hasps had been cut through and no sign of my Abus disc padlocks!

My first thought was that when I opened the door that Morris would be gone, or vandalised; however, my relief was profound when I found her sitting inside untouched.

Nothing at all had been touched inside, not even the trolley jack was missing!

For the moment I have the car in front of my kitchen window while I try to exchange garages through the local council, assuming they have something within easy trot of home. What I would like is to pick your brains folks, sensible suggestions to implement some good security on a metal 'up-and-over' type door.....

I looked around the block of garages and from what I could see, the thieving scum had cut a few hasps through and there were about six doors had been done, so it seems they were opportunist dross rather than Minor enthusiasts after my P+J

All ideas gratefully received. My only other option would be a winter cover and wheelclamp which I don't really fancy what with the siberian winters we seem to get; so much for global warming haha

Regards

Dave

[peterpimlico]

Sadly Dave it is a risk we all take with double door garages. Even up and over suffer from the thief who really wants to get in. Really I don't see any solution! I'm afraid every time I approach my double door garage I'm waiting to see if all is well. I think best advice is put it back, get new locks, and a good insurance cover! Thieves will get into anything if they really want too.
Regards ............ Peter

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Agreed Im afraid. My lockup was broke into last year and nothing removed, thankfully. A lot of trades men use the lockups were I rent and I guess the theives were looking for tools and things that would be easily sold. I had to swap to another garage in the row as the door was damaged. I fitted an extra bar to the door sunk into the ground, but I sometimes wonder if extra security draws more attention to it and makes people wonder what is behind the door......

[Dean]

I'm thinking of one of these, not sure how good they are but Autolok are reputable. What I've found is the only visible deterent is a small key hole in the door lower down. When you insert the key and turn, the whole unit rotates out of a clasp that is drilled into the floor inside the garage.

http://www.autolok.co.uk/Pages/garage.htm


This google image search give a better idea on looks and how it works.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=autolo ... 8QPc0fW0Cw

[bmcecosse]

V large and hungry Alsation 'kenneled' within is probably the only real hope.. Otherwise - an additional heavy duty steel bar/mesh door with chain/padlock outside the main door - but as suggested - this may merely draw attention to the garage..... you could try a 'No tools or anything of value stored in here' notice on the door....... And/Or a CCTV notice may be worth a go.......

[linearaudio]

A second line of defence?? Have a conventional padlocky system (rather than going overboard) on the outer door, to avoid the " must be something worth nicking" brigade. Have a second door/ screen inside more securely locked down. Anyone serious will have the gear to get through anything, but it would deter a majority after a quick-nick!
If you are on the mains, a 240v buzz through the inner defence would also deter, if suitable warning notices were affixed to it!

[MarkyB]

I've considered something like this;
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... CGsQ8wIwAA

But I'm wary of attracting attention with extra obvious security.

I like the lock that my garage door came with, it's a T handle that drives latches on both sides of the door.
When you lock it the handle pushes into a housing that stops it being turned.

[Dean]

I liked the look of that also Markyb, but like you say, it looks so obvious thieves would trip over it!

[MarkyB]

If I wasn't bone idle I'd find a way to fit 2 or even 3 of these:

http://www.discountlocks.co.uk/ERA-Door ... 20bolt.htm

Only a very small hole visible on the outside and the same "key" would fit them all.

The only problem I can see is that they are designed to go in a wooden door but mounting them on a block of wood you could probably use no more nails or similar to glue then in place or strap round them and use pop rivets.

At the end of the day there is only so much you can do to make a sheet metal door secure.

[Trabantdave]

Thanks for all the ideas all food for thought, and MarkyB special thanks to you; I found something called Pacri Bolts that seem to be almost Mortice Locks for garage doors, again with just a single hole visible on the outside once fitted.
I'll also add some re-inforceing angle-iron to the lower corners of the door, and a secret weapon which I'll outline below.


My thought to increase security would be to use shear-head bolts and then just to beef things up I'd MIG the nuts to the bolt threads too.

I'm also thinking of replacing the damaged hasps and padlocks with cheap stuff, almost as an invitation, and as a final wall of reactive defence, attach a very sharp edge across the bottom of the door (where your fingers would curl around if you attempted to open it...) liberally smeared in dog poo or some other unpleasant substance.... Let the thieving scrotes wonder why their fingers are turning black and falling off..


Best Regards

Dave

[MarkyB]

I'd give the biological warfare a miss, not only would it stink the whole garage up but the most likely outcome would be that you would catch yourself or anyone who visits the garage with you.

If you plan to weld angle iron on the door why not go for the rack bolts in wood idea and save money too?

[Jefftav]

Extra locks etc are useful as really you want the opportunist to move onto something that looks a bit easier. Also if you garage is over looked by any houses might be worth asking the householder if they would keep your phone number handy and call you if they see anything suspicous. Also tell the local plod as they might drive past (a long shot I know)

It is also worthwhile making your minor difficult to start with some sort of immobiliser or removing the rotor

[Matt Tomkins]

i'd be tempted to fit one of these -- http://www.airpistol.co.uk/alarm_gun_tr ... ivated.htm
or this one: http://www.spyshop.co.uk/alarm-mine
not only would it cause the perpetrator to run like hell, it'd allert the attention on neighbours