Shop and van security

[festooltim]

Well it finally happend earlier this week went in the shop to feed and water the dog like I do every morning and noticed something is missing. Like a compressor air ratchets sanders and a floor jack and Dewalt miter saw. To say I was mad enough to spit nails is an understatement. Shop door didn't have a very good lock on it so I guess it was easy to jimmy open my shop has a dog door in it so my dog is fenced in the back yard and her dog house food and water are in the shop. I guess she has gotten too friendly and didn't bark or anything at them. I am reinforcing the shop doors and windows with better locks but now I am worried about my van because it is where I keep all my Festools. I keep it locked but thinking I should add some extra locks to make it really difficult to get in. But don't want something that takes me a lot of extra time to unlock when I get to the job. Don't really want an alarm because that doesn't really stop them they just run away with your stuff faster. What do you guys use for security on your vans.

 

[sancho57]

I keep my stuff in my shop/garage. If I had it stored in a vehicle, van etc, I definitely have a alarm system set up. A good alarm system along with heavy duty secured locks.

 

[richy3333]

If you don't want an alarm is there any chance of using lighting over the vehicle? Crooks don't like being seen. Failing that geese are better guards than dogs!

Personally I assume that any scrote can run faster than 28g @ 450mtps

 

[Loren Woirhaye]

GPS "dot" technology is coming, if it hasn't got here already.  Last I read it wasn't perfected but it was close. 

 

[Paul G]

I can't imagine not having an alarm on any vehicle I use to store anything that some drug addict might sell for their next fix. But then I grew up in Los Angeles where it wasn't uncommon for a vehicle break in to steal just your sunglasses. So I'm in the habit that I leave nothing in view in any vehicle. If I had to store tools in a van, it would have an alarm that paged me (with GPS in the event they just towed it away), no windows in the back, a caged front and extra locks and reinforcements to slow down a thief until I arrive with firepower. Even if it is garaged overnight it is vulnerable at jobsites, Home Depot, lunch, etc. My house and garage has monitored alarm, much better locks and laminated glass windows throughout, the point being to slow anyone down and be the hard target, the typical thief wants things easy and moves on to find a soft target. Oh and make sure it is all fully insured and keep detailed inventory if you ever are dealing with the hassle of a claim. At this point you are marked, don't be surprised by a return visit.

 

[NHSP759]

If you don't want an alarm is there any chance of using lighting over the vehicle? Crooks don't like being seen. Failing that geese are better guards than dogs!

Personally I assume that any scrote can run faster than 28g @ 450mtps

Yeah but can they run 1458 feet per second????? Hmmmmmmmm?

 

[Sparktrician]

If you don't want an alarm is there any chance of using lighting over the vehicle? Crooks don't like being seen. Failing that geese are better guards than dogs!

Personally I assume that any scrote can run faster than 28g @ 450mtps

Yeah but can they run 1458 feet per second????? Hmmmmmmmm?

As in, "You can run, but you'll only die tired."? 

 

[DavidW]

I am looking to install some "puck locks" on my work van and wanting to know, what are the good ones. I saw a video on U-tube where the "Master Lock" was picked in a very short time, any recommendations?
David

 

[gkaiseril]

A good wired alarm system is a start. But you could also add individual alarms on doors and windows that are battery powered and not wired to the central system but connected to a big loud bell inside the shop. This would provide backup in case the main power is lost. The added alarm might scare anyone off.

Also it is not a good idea to park any commercial vehicle on the street or in any unsecured area over night on a regular basis. It should be kept inside a garage. The cost of the shop, truck and garage should be a cost of the business. If the garage has a second entrance, you could also lock the overhead garage door from the inside by putting a lock on the door track. Also make sure the manual release for the automatic garage door opener cannot not be accessed even if a hole is drilled through the door.

With the cost of video surveillance coming down, that is another option, just make sure the recorder cannot be located and destroyed. With WiFi and networking cable it could be located within the living quarters.

The idea is to make your shop and garage a harder target and hope the jerks go find a softer target.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Very sorry to read of your loss, Festooltim, I hope you find a suitable solution to  secure your gear in the future..

I would move the most valuable easy to run with gear into the Living quarters if I lived in a high risk area... I do that presently but then I don't have that much gear...

 

[Marven]

I've used puck locks in the past but with my new van, I went with Tufloc by www.Esmet.com.
Any lock can be broken into.  You just have to make it look tuffer than the next van down the road.  My van has no back windows, cage behind the drivers seat.  The front doors can be popped open in about 10 seconds but they will have a hard time getting into the cargo area.

edit: photo is upside down but you get the idea.

 

[Sparky]

I just picked up a 16' cargo trailer and been building my cabinets for inside. Won't even load my tools into it before my car alarm goes in. Trailers are getting broken into like crazy lately.

 

[wow]

I've used puck locks in the past but with my new van, I went with Tufloc by www.Esmet.com.
Any lock can be broken into.  You just have to make it look tuffer than the next van down the road.  My van has no back windows, cage behind the drivers seat.  The front doors can be popped open in about 10 seconds but they will have a hard time getting into the cargo area.

edit: photo is upside down but you get the idea.

Those are REALLY nice locks - but not cheap.  [eek]

 

[Gary in Texas]

Sorry to hear some scumbags made off with some of your tools!!!

A couple of things.  I have my shop wired with motion sensors.  Better to have them leave with nothing or one grab quick item, than having the time to look over everything and decide what's best to take and/or pawn.....

Secondly, same applies to the vehicle.  May as well call attention to the thiefs rather than give them the time to make off with the best or everything. 

Speaking of autos and shops, if you have your car/truck programmed to open the garage door, just note many models if you push that handy little button on your visit or mirror, will still open your garage door.  My F-150 does, the BMW will not allow unless the key is present.  So if thieves get into your vehicle without an alarm sounding, chances are they can also open your garage.... 

Also, thieves can scan/code to open your garage door.  As we don't park anything in our 3 car garage other than the Harley and wood working equipment, I disable the garage door opener.  I should just lock the garage door....

Personally, I will not make it easy for someone to steal from me. 

 

[wow]

^^^ This - and more.

Most people leave their clip-on GDO on the visor. I've removed them (and disabled that feature) from our openers and use an iPhone app now. No remotes to use or steal, and the iPhones can be remotely wiped if lost or stolen!

And it likely wouldn't work with a van for logistics reasons, but for a home or shop the absolute best deterrent is a big dog with a protective streak. Here's my example:

Years ago we lived in a rented town house and I had a VERY expensive component stereo system. (Yeah, I know - priorities, right?) Both my wife and I worked, so no one was at home during the day - except our German shepherd.

One evening I came home after work to find the front door open and part of my stereo system disconnected and sitting on the steps. Right alongside it was my dog, looking very proud of herself. She got a steak that night! GOOD dog!

[thumbs up]

Epilog:

A few months later a neighbor kid was out riding his bike down our street and saw our dog. In one move - I'm still not sure how - he lept from his bike to the top of a parked car. By that time our dog had him trapped, and he yelled "mister, call off you dog" (No, that's not a typo .

I left him there while I called the police. Once I completed the call I approached him (but not too close) and said "My dog doesn't seem to like you. Why is that?" He wouldn't say anything, but when the police got there they took him home and in his garage found thousands of dollars of stolen property. Turns out he and his buddies were coming home from school and hitting all the places where people weren't home.

I don't know what happened to him. I never saw him again, but I still had my stereo system and a very good four-legged theft prevention system! We've owned german Shepherds ever since, I can't imagine being without one.

 

[richy3333]

Talking of disabling garage doors. In the UK I've seen several people board up internally their garage door. So from the outside it looks as though you just have a normally door but on the inside it is studded out. Has its disadvantages but must fool some thieves!

 

[Ohc917]

I have been driving a Toyota Hilux as work pickup fore about a year, a few months ago someone broke in and I lost some festools so i recently bought a sprinter with alarm in the front and back, the front alarm is connected to all the doors and the back is triggered by a motion sensor. The next step is to install a siren,  smoke maskin that fills the car with smoke in a few seconds and a cellphone caller that calls my phone if the alarm is triggered.

If you have an alarm make sure you have big labels on the van telling the theves about it.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

A couple years ago we caught some guys breaking into our truck when we we at lunch.  He held the guys until the police showed up.  The cops said if we wanted to press charges they would take them in and that they would be released when bail was paid and we would have to go court.  The cop said that normally they do not show up to court and its a long drawn out process.  My lesson is not to call the cops next time!

 

[Gary in Texas]

A couple years ago we caught some guys breaking into our truck when we we at lunch.  He held the guys until the police showed up.  The cops said if we wanted to press charges they would take them in and that they would be released when bail was paid and we would have to go court.  The cop said that normally they do not show up to court and its a long drawn out process.  My lesson is not to call the cops next time!

So Tyler, what exactly will you do next time IF you catch someone breaking into your van/truck/house, if not calling the cops is your lesson learnt?????  Just curious...

 

[Sparktrician]

A couple years ago we caught some guys breaking into our truck when we we at lunch.  He held the guys until the police showed up.  The cops said if we wanted to press charges they would take them in and that they would be released when bail was paid and we would have to go court.  The cop said that normally they do not show up to court and its a long drawn out process.  My lesson is not to call the cops next time!

So Tyler, what exactly will you do next time IF you catch someone breaking into your van/truck/house, if not calling the cops is your lesson learnt?????  Just curious...

My guess is the he'd send out the dog that barks over here and bites over there.  If you're in Texas and don't understand that concept, move to Massachusetts.