Preventing Garage Tool Theft

[buckeye95]

All,

Friend of mine who lives down the street is a police officer (and fellow WW). He told me a couple weeks ago that they have been having issues with stuff getting stolen out of garages around our part of town lately. Mostly, it is people that forget to close them at night or leave them open when they are in the backyard. He said it's amazing how fast a $800 set of Ping golf clubs can be out of the garage and in the back of a car.

That got me thinking about my big tools. I keep everything but my table saw and SCMS in the basement and bring them up as required for this very reason. However, both of these tools are inherently very portable (Ridgid TS2400 collapsible saw and SCMS on an MSUV). We try to be vigilant about the garage door (I check it every night and don't leave it open if I am not there), but I know things can happen (i.e. the wife leaves it up by accident when I am at work).

Has anyone found any methods to help secure large power tools in a garage? I have thought of getting some heavy chain and running it through a couple studs and the frames of both tools. I understand if someone wants it, they'll take it, but hopefully this would slow down a thief long enough for them to move on or risk detection by neighbors.

Anyone gone through this or have any suggestions?

Regards,

Pete

[cgallery]

There are sensors that will sound an alarm inside your house when someone is walking/driving up your driveway. I saw a site once where someone wired one of these to their garage door to close the door.

Basically, if the door was open, it was pressing on a switch which closed a circuit. The sensor (I'm sorry, I can't remember what they are called) could then trigger the same button that closed the door from inside the garage/house.

It was pretty clever. He made certain the safety features of the garage were working, and he was able to position the sensor in the driveway where it wouldn't be triggered when he was working outside.

The idea was, if someone approached his house to see what was in the garage, the door would start closing and they'd think someone was home and they'd basically run away to avoid detection.

[justaguy]

Here are a few of the things I have done:

I installed sash window security locks and keep the windows covered when I am not out there working (no looking in the windows to see if there is something worth stealing).

I keep the larger power tools and the toolbox on one side of the two car garage and only open the door on the opposite side as much as possible.

I replaced both chain driven garage doors with screw type openers so they would be harder to force open.

I replaced the original flimsy garage doors with Clopay insulated doors that have the insulation sandwiched between aluminum on each side. They are heavy doors and would be very hard to force open. I installed the window panel of the door at the top of the door instead of the second panel from the top. This places the windows above eye level for the average person.

The standard entrance door on the side of the garage it's a steel door, fire rated, no windows, with an Anderson security storm door on the outside that I can open for ventilation.

Also, from what I have read the garage is a favorite target for getting access to a house while you are away. Upgrade the locks from the garage to the house with a good lock and a deadbolt and use them. If you leave a garage door opener in car that is parked outside while you are away at least take off of the visor and put it someplace out of sight.

[jussi]

A really big dog?

[Rand]

I am not endorsing this product but I did a quick web search and found this gadget:
http://www.homesecuritystore.com/ezS...productID=1466

Never Accidentally Leave Your Garage Door Open Again! How many times have you realization that you may have forgotten to close your garage door? It's pretty common. Make sure the garage door is closed securely with the automatic Garage Door Closer, which automatically closes after an adjustable amount of time. The GT-100 is a gadget that will automatically close your garage door when you forget. You can lock the receiver so it won't close when you don't want it to. Easy to Install! Replaces your traditional wall button.

Power Supply Included!

Item Code: GT-100

[cgallery]

In thinking over my reply about the sensor-based garage door closer, I wonder if that would be a problem for woodworkers using (say) a table saw. Perhaps it would startle someone in the middle of a cut and cause an accident.

The web site (which I can't find now) that documented the sensor-based solution was really trying to keep people from entering his house through the open garage door. I don't think he did any "shop" stuff in his garage.

[MikeMcCoy]

I figured a long time ago that you can't stop a determined thief but you can make it a bit more difficult. I had my security system extended to my detached garage and put burglar bars on the one window that isn't readily visible. I changed my thumb operated deadbolt to a keyed lock and that key stays on my key chain. Motion sensor lights and a relatively cheap camera on both sides round it off. The other window has a rack in front of it that could possibly be bypassed but it wouldn't be easy.

[Russianwolf]

A simple sign saying....

"Some of it's sawdust, and some of it's Antrax. Want to find out which is which??????"

[dbhost]

Keeping the garage door open when I work out back is something I have done way too often and never had a problem. I think I might be pushing my luck...

I tend to stage materials in the garage, and then haul them to where i Need...

For me, it would make more sense to build or buy an inexpensive material cart and load up what I need, roll it out of the garage, and close the doors.

[Ed62]

HF sells the alarms that can be put in the door. They make a lot of noise if someone enters the door when they shouldn't. If you don't forget to shut the door when you're through, I think they would work pretty well.

We recently signed up for a security system. It protects our detached garage as well as the home. If you're thinking about going this route, read the latest (?) issue of The Family Handyman first. It explains how you can put your own system in, then sign up for a monitoring service, which costs roughly $10.00 per month. I didn't know the parts or the service were available, except through a security system company, before I read the article (too late).

Ed

[LarryG]

On Pete's specific question -- how to secure large tools to deter theft -- I can't offer much. Heavy chain, or maybe a couple Kryptonite locks, plus a liberal dose of due diligence, and you've done about all you can do. As MikeMcoy says, a really determined thief will not be denied if he wants your stuff badly enough.

dbhost makes a good point: keep the shop buttoned up as much as possible even when you are at home. An open garage door may admit a welcome breeze, but it also puts all that you have on display to potential thieves. And bear in mind that every time you roll your tools out into the driveway to work, where they're visible to passing cars, you're only increasing your risk.

My primary theft-deterrent device is to house my shop in a dilapidated outbuilding that most people would never guess contains what it does. I am also fortunate (at least in this regard) to live in a small, semi-rural city with low crime rates. Even so, I am fairly careful about who I tell I am a woodworker, and to whom I mention what tools I own. I am even more careful about letting people know where I live, and I am extra-super-with-sprinkles-on-top selective about who actually gets to see my shop. It's not about the trustworthiness of the people I allow to visit. It's about the trustworthiness of the people they might talk to after seeing what I have.

[cwithboat]

Post a small sign on the door:

In case of emergency
contact me at
815.244.2900x342
or email
training@blackwaterusa.com

[cabinetman]

The non-criminal doesn't think like the criminal. If you do woodwork at your home, anyone within an earshot knows. If you're not at home during the day, the criminal has all day to figure out how to move that darkside cast iron mutha out of your garage. Ever heard of a hand truck? If you keep your jewels in a detached shed or garage like an outbuilding there is more of a chance you will be a victim.

I've always had German Shepherds at home and in the shop. Never had a loss. Everyone within an earshot of a router and a 100lb German Shepherd makes a decision. Besides having an alarm of some sorts making theft as difficult as possible will deter the criminal.

There is another segment to this theft thing that takes a hard look. Showing pictures on forums may be a cool gloat, but it puts into perspective what you have, where all the "good stuff" is, and even what shelf they can find that new router. Think about this. I doubt our regular forum community would be problematic, but a person doesn't have to join to view. Criminals have all the time in the world to search out possible locations. There are free internet search sites that will give all kinds of data on limited information. I don't believe "showing your shop" on cyberspace makes sense. This may or may not sound far fetched, but you never know.

As for small stuff being taken, I have lost tools that were accessibile to someone running in, grabbing and running out. I solved that problem with steel accordian gates.

Many years ago I developed a locking system for cabinetry that secured large or expensive equipment that was housed in a cabinet or on a shelf. The principle is very simple. Lets say you have a TV sitting on a shelf or in a cabinet opening. You take 1/4" coated stranded aircraft cable and mount an eye loop to one end and screw/bolt it to the largest fastener on the back or bottom of the TV. Then you drill a hole in the back of the cabinet (if you can get to it) and feed the cable through while pushing the TV into the opening. On the backside, you have mounted a sliding loop that gets crimped or bolted to the cable and put a small lock on it. If you can't get to the back of the cabinet, the cable can be fed through the shelf the TV sits on (that should be a fixed shelf). What this does is keeps the TV from being pulled out.
.

[buckeye95]

Thanks for all the replies.

I agree with limiting access to your information. I would never set up a web site with my real name pictures of my tools. Too much risk to my tools, and at worst, my family. It is scary how much information is out there between online auditor sites, Google Earth, etc.

In terms of neighbors knowing, I totally agree. My police WW buddy told me that most thefts statistically are by neighbors or people you know. Another reason to keep good company and limit the folks you show your shop off too.

I might try the aircraft cable idea or a large chain fastened to the garage structure. If someone wants your stuff, they will get it. However, anything you can do to deter the theft to begin with (alarm system, dog), or make it inconvenient or time-consuming to get away with the goods will be to your benefit.

One more idea that might help - cover your tools and keep them in the back / side if possible. A large dark grill cover works great; not only does it cover the tool but also blends it in to the shadows of a dark garage. Someone would have to get really close to my garage to realize there was more than meets the eye inside.

Regards,

Pete

[Uncle Cracker]

I just leave the bodies strewn around the yard. Very effective.