Protecting Your Outdoor Belongings
Garden theft is on the increase. It’s easier for thieves to break into a shed than it. is to break into a house. and a solution is to ensure that you protect your garden storage units
Garden sheds are convenient for keeping tools, equipment, and furniture tidy, but they can also be targets for opportunistic thieves. While often not containing high-value items like a main shed or garage, the contents can still be costly to replace, and the inconvenience of theft is significant. Implementing basic outdoor storage security measures can significantly deter garden theft and protect your belongings.
From choosing the right locks to considering location and adding deterrents, securing your Flat Pack Sheds garden storage doesn’t have to be complicated. Let’s explore practical tips to enhance the security of your boxes and units.
1. Choose Storage with Built-in Security Features
When purchasing, look for features designed for security:
Lockable Lids/Doors: Ensure the unit has padlock points (hasps) or integrated locking mechanisms. Check that hasps are sturdy and securely fixed.
Material Strength: Metal units generally offer better resistance to forced entry than plastic or basic wood designs. Reinforced corners and panels add strength.
Concealed Hinges: Hinges that are not easily accessible from the outside are harder to tamper with.
Look for descriptions emphasizing secure garden storage features.
2. Use High-Quality Locks
A storage unit is only as secure as its lock.
Padlocks: Opt for a heavy-duty, weather-resistant padlock with a hardened steel shackle.Closed-shackle padlocks offer better protection against bolt cutters.
Disc Locks: Offer good resistance to cutting and picking.
Keyed Alike: If you have multiple storage units, consider using padlocks keyed alike for convenience.
Avoid Cheap Locks: Flimsy, cheap locks offer minimal deterrence.
A sturdy lockable garden box requires a correspondingly sturdy lock.
3. Strategic Location
Where you place your storage unit can impact its security.
Visibility: Position the unit where it is visible from the house, if possible. Thieves prefer secluded spots.
Avoid Concealment: Don’t place it behind dense shrubs or fences that provide cover for potential thieves.
Accessibility: While needing access yourself, avoid placing it right next to a boundary fence or gate that offers easy escape routes.
4. Anchoring the Unit
Lighter plastic or smaller metal/wood units can potentially be carried away entirely.
Ground Anchors: Secure the unit to the ground using anchor bolts (into concrete) or specialized ground anchors (for soil/grass). Many units have pre-drilled holes in the base for this purpose.
Wall Anchors: Secure taller units to a solid wall using brackets and appropriate fixings.
Weighting: Placing heavy items like paving slabs or bags of sand inside can also make smaller units harder to move.
Anchoring significantly increases outdoor storage security.
5. Security Mark Your Belongings
Marking valuable items stored inside makes them less attractive to thieves and easier to recover if stolen.
UV Pens: Mark items with your postcode and house number using an invisible UV pen.
Engraving/Etching: Permanently mark tools or equipment.
Photographs: Keep photos and serial numbers of valuable items stored in the unit.
6. Enhance Overall Garden Security
Broader shed security tips apply here too:
Lighting: Install motion-activated security lights near the storage unit and around the garden.
Gravel Paths: Noisy gravel underfoot can deter stealthy approaches. Secure Boundaries: Ensure fences and gates are in good repair and consider adding trellis tops or prickly shrubs to make climbing harder.
Visible Deterrents: Dummy alarm boxes or CCTV cameras can act as visual deterrents.
7. Don’t Advertise Contents
Keep it Closed: Keep the storage unit closed and locked when not in use.
Avoid Leaving Tools Out: Don’t leave valuable tools or equipment lying around the garden, signalling there might be more inside the storage unit.
Conclusion: Layering Your Security
Securing your garden storage involves a layered approach. Start by choosing a unit with security features, use a high-quality lock, position it strategically, anchor it if possible, and enhance overall garden security. These relatively simple steps significantly deter garden theft and provide peace of mind that your outdoor belongings are protected.
Find robust and secure garden storage options in the garden storage collection at Flat Pack Sheds.
