Making Your Shed Secure

How to Improve Your Own Shed Security

Although our sheds are made to be outside, they often contain a variety of valuable items. These can include anything from expensive power tools to bikes, gym equipment, garden furniture and more. This is why it is so important to ensure that your shed is secure and not an easy target for would-be thieves.

Here are just a few things to keep in mind when it comes to shed security, along with some tips on how to improve the security of your shed too.

Location and Added Security

Where you keep your shed can play a big role in how secure it is. Most sheds will be placed somewhere in the back garden, but if your shed is close to a side gate or alleyway, you may want to consider putting in some extra security measures to keep all your items inside secure. These can include -

• A padlock
• Underfloor locking systems
• Locked interior cabinets and storage units
• Motion sensor lights
• Concealing foliage
• CCTV

Choosing the Right Lock

When choosing the right lock for your shed, don't just opt for your usual padlock. Instead, make sure to go for a specific shed padlock instead. A shed padlock is designed to be much stronger than your usual padlock, which also acts as a deterrent in itself. The majority of sheds, no matter their style, will usually come with a handle or hasp and stable, so there are lots of ways for you to lock up your shed each night.

Using an underfloor locking system may be a little more complex, but it is a really good idea for those storing bicycles, bikes and other expensive gardening equipment. An underfloor locking system works by using a bar that has been secured to the shed floor, with a chain that wraps across any items to lock them down securely.

Although a little more fiddly to use than a padlock, it's worth it if you have large heavy valuables in your shed. Keeping locks on any cabinets in your shed is also a good idea, adding an extra element of security should someone find themselves with access to your shed.

Illumination and Concealment

Aside from choosing the right type of lock to properly protect your shed, there are some other security measures that are easy to put in place too for added peace of mind. Adding a motion sensor security light to your garden is a great way to deter anyone who shouldn't be there from coming into your garden in the first place.

Triggered by movement, the motion sensor will then switch on the light, flooding your garden with bright illumination, stopping any would-be thieves in their tracks. Motion sensor garden lights are easy to find at most hardware shops and are also simple to install too. Another idea you might want to try is adding some security shrubbery.

Although this may sound a little strange, adding prickly shrubs close to your garden shed is a great way to deter anyone from attempting to steal anything. Juniper, blackberries, even rose bushes all have spiky thorns that can easily catch on clothing or scratch exposed skin, making them a good choice to plant near your shed if you want to keep it extra secure.

CCTV

If you are still worried that your shed might attract the wrong sort of attention and want to ward off intruders for good, installing CCTV may be the right option for you. CCTV systems allow you to monitor your garden sheds Ireland anywhere, anytime.

This means that even when you're not at home, you can still keep an eye on your garden and shed, making it ideal for those who may frequently need to be away from home overnight.

If a break-in were to occur, your CCTV system may also be able to automatically contact the police for you, as well as provide accurate footage of the incident. Don't forget to also etch or paint your postcode onto valuable items in your shed too. This makes it much easier to recover them should the worst happen.

Shed Type

Finally, it is important to note that the type of shed you have can also help to minimise any risk of a break-in too. If you are looking to upgrade or buy a new shed, choosing one that is already superior in security could be the best way to go. For example, windowless sheds have been shown to be much more secure.

This is because they present a less tempting opportunity to a thief, who has no way of knowing what is inside and has only one access route in and out via the door. Metal sheds are also generally made of a tougher material than either plastic or wood, making them the go-to material for those after security as a priority.

It is possible for wooden sheds to be highly secure too, but your best option is to select a shiplap or tongue and groove design. These designs offer increased sturdiness, keeping all your items inside safe. Don't forget to keep an eye out for extra security design features too, such as sheds which already come with built-in locks, along with bracing on the walls and door.