Just got robbed...

[DTSaskatoon]

Just learned that our cabin that is under construction has been robbed. The thieves smashed windows to into the building and brought their own cordless grinders to cut padlocks. I'm pleased to report that none of my Festool stuff got stolen but I did have a great air compressor, a mitre saw, a small table saw and my trusted circular saw that was a gift from my parents stolen.  The Festool wasn't stolen because all the Festool stuff was in my basement at home.

Although I'm out of town working, my wife was able to find our tool inventory list on our computer and provide the police/RCMP with both the model and Serial Number of all the tools. I'm pleased that although there is very little chance that I'll see these tools again, the SNs are in the system waiting to be found.

Just a quick post to encourage everyone to prepare a detailed tool inventory list for reference in case you suffer a theft. I'll be updating my list when I get home since I've got a few more tools since I built this list initially.

Anyone have any clever ideas on tool storage to minimize the risk of theft?

Happy Holidays 2015!

 

[ear3]

Really sorry to hear.  Do you use a specific program for doing your tool inventory, or just a normal spreadsheet?

 

[mastercabman]

Gang box

 

[thedude306]

That really sucks.  What lake was it? 

I've got a dog, a big dog.  Not sure if he helps but I like having him around too. 

We keep a normal spreadsheet of our tools as well.  Our insurance dude said do take some pictures every once and a while as well.

 

[pettyconstruction]

I may add, email the list to yourself just in case the steal your computer.
Charlie

 

[thedude306]

I may add, email the list to yourself just in case the steal your computer.
Charlie

To add to that, you should have automatic offsite storage of your whole computer.  Even a simple HD hooked up wirelessly at your neighbors, or in an detached garage etc.  Protects both from theft and even worse a fire...

 

[luke duke]

Not that it will make you feel any better, but you were burglarized not robbed. I hope they catch the guy. I can't stand thieves.

 

[Lbob131]

Exposed padlocks  are  easily breached!

The best security on site  is a steel shipping container. The rear doors are usually removed  and 6mm or 8mm plate  steel doors fitted.
The locking mechanism  is a concealed mortise lock  and the outside opening lever  is made  from  weak  light steel.
So if forced it just bends.
All you have is a hole in the door  for the key  to pass through.
And the plate steel inset  on the frame  so that no levers  can  be used.

The  only  way  to  make  a breach  on the container  is with oxy/acetylene  or plasma  cutting  equipment  or  the use off  heavy duty  grinding/cutting  machines.
The best alarm is  the loud hailers.  The ones that really hurt your ears.
That's what we have fitted  now and has saved our premises a number  off times. Before  that we lost  a lot of equipment  to thieves.
Theives don't like noise. They also don't like it when a lot of work is  involved  in making a breach.

Some builders  will also stack  building materials  against  the container  and on the roof  which makes it even more secure.
And having  the container placed  alongside a wall  is also a bonus. A large machine  is usually  driven in front of the doors  also  at the end of the  day  and  electrically/mechanically disabled.  Not just locked!
A track machine  is ideal.

Very important to have  machines/plant  etc    electrically/mechanically disabled. As they can be used  by the thieves  as a tool  to make the breach.  Or  just  stolen also.
Lowering the thieves options  is what you  should  be  aiming for.

And then just hope  they don't  sabotage  or destroy  your  possessions  with the use of fire  or some other means  because  you made life difficult for them. Good luck.

 

[Dwayne]

I may add, email the list to yourself just in case the steal your computer.
Charlie

We use Evernote a cloud base storage for inventory list.  Easy to take attach photos.  Also a useful tool for clipping woodworking plans, web pages and articles

 

[demographic]

Exposed padlocks  are  easily breached!

The best security on site  is a steel shipping container. The rear doors are usually removed  and 6mm or 8mm plate  steel doors fitted.
The locking mechanism  is a concealed mortise lock  and the outside opening lever  is made  from  weak  light steel.
So if forced it just bends.
All you have is a hole in the door  for the key  to pass through.
And the plate steel inset  on the frame  so that no levers  can  be used.

The  only  way  to  make  a breach  on the container  is with oxy/acetylene  or plasma  cutting  equipment  or  the use off  heavy duty  grinding/cutting  machines.
The best alarm is  the loud hailers.  The ones that really hurt your ears.
That's what we have fitted  now and has saved our premises a number  off times. Before  that we lost  a lot of equipment  to thieves.
Theives don't like noise. They also don't like it when a lot of work is  involved  in making a breach.

Some builders  will also stack  building materials  against  the container  and on the roof  which makes it even more secure.
And having  the container placed  alongside a wall  is also a bonus. A large machine  is usually  driven in front of the doors  also  at the end of the  day  and  electrically/mechanically disabled.  Not just locked!
A track machine  is ideal.

Very important to have  machines/plant  etc    electrically/mechanically disabled. As they can be used  by the thieves  as a tool  to make the breach.  Or  just  stolen also.
Lowering the thieves options  is what you  should  be  aiming for.

And then just hope  they don't  sabotage  or destroy  your  possessions  with the use of fire  or some other means  because  you made life difficult for them. Good luck.

Can tell the people that work on sites in the UK by how security minded we are, I didn't look at your location till I read your post and it was obvious to me where you were from.

 

[DTSaskatoon]

Quick update...I've installed a Reconyx Trailcam SC950 and I've spent the summer downloading images and getting ready for the winter season of break ins.  So far, I'm extremely impressed.  Although I would have preferred to buy a more economical camera, the extra features made this camera much more suitable.  I likely don't need to explain since everyone on this forum understands why there is a difference between a $100 power tool and a $500 power tool.  They might look the same but they aren't.  The benefit of my Festool-like trailcamera includes loop recording, improved optics, and a massive 12 x AA lithium battery capacity for extreme temperatures and extended use without the need to download images.  I've adjusted the angle a few times and I've now able to catch license plates on most vehicles although they are often too dirty to read.  Unfortunately, the thieves will likely steal a truck to commit their thefts but I can only do so much.  I've contacted the local police department and sent them a CD full of images.  I'm hoping that when the thieves come back, the police will contact me if they want to review the footage. 

 

[DTSaskatoon]

Really sorry to hear.  Do you use a specific program for doing your tool inventory, or just a normal spreadsheet?

Sorry for the super late reply!  I looked around online for a few special spread sheets but nothing seemed to fit my requirements.  I register all my Festool purchases online and I appreciate the warranty count down clock and the ability to upload my purchase receipt.  I built my own Excel template and I've adjusted it for other areas of the house including jewelry, electronics, yard equipment and sporting stuff. 

As usual, YouTube videos are handy for learning how to do some of the cool Excel features.  On my revised version, I want to be able to create a hyperlink to a high res image in another computer folder of JPEG photos.  I save the files onto my Dropbox account so that I can access them from anywhere including my cell phone. 

 

[wkearney99]

Really sorry to hear.  Do you use a specific program for doing your tool inventory, or just a normal spreadsheet?

I've gotten into the habit of using my cell phone's camera and taking a picture of the item, it's serial number panel and one of the receipt for the purchase.  These get dumped into the same group of folders as the rest of the family pictures.  Which get backed up all sorts of ways.  It's helped a few times when I've needed to know the model number of an item and didn't want crawl around the back of something to try and see it.

 

[Gregor]

About locks, most are vulnerable to this kind of attack:

 

[Xoncention]

About locks, most are vulnerable to this kind of attack:

Bumping has been around since Moses was in diapers.  Most manufacturers can supply bump proof cylinders to go in commercial padlocks.  There are also padlocks that have no exposed shackle and are composed of a composite material that makes them impossible to cut with a grinder and they will not oxidize so you are also safe from plasma and other cutting equipment.  Chubb used to make them years ago.  I think they were about $800 each.  Best way to protect your stuff is to wire it up to an electric fence module with a remote control and put all this in your storage container.  External surveillance with self contained power supply and remote response contract with a security company.  I used to sell safes (I am a security consultant and installer with 35 years in the industry) and people wanted to purchase a cheap safe to secure 100,000 worth of stuff.  My comment to them was your safe needs to cost you the same as you are willing to have stolen.  No system is completely secure, but it mitigates things when you design it properly.

 

[Gregor]

Bumping has been around since Moses was in diapers.

True, but plenty of the locks sold these days are still vulnerable to it.