Workshop Security

[Tim Brennan]

Ideally I'd like to keep a fair amount of workshop tools and machines in the shed, so what are the best ways to stop thieves?

For some kit that weighs over 50 lbs I'm not sure it would be that easy to lift over fences, so is it worth  getting contents insurance cover for those items? Does the free Festool 3 year insurance in the UK cover stuff stolen from sheds?

 

[Stephen B]

[size=12pt]
In my local area there are lots of shed thefts, the area being mainly rural. Farm, woodworking and garden equipment are on the 'shopping' lists. Thieves fall into two main groups, organised gangs from our state capital city looking for specific items, or local addicts from a nearby town.

Most Australian sheds, at least in rural areas, are made from corrugated or Roma profiled zincalume metal. These can be literally cut open or their hex head tech screws removed with a battery drill.  Some shed owners have installed delaying measures, but in reality nothing will stop an organised and equipped thief.

Many people now have specific additions on their household contents or business insurance polices. [size=14pt]

On the FOG it amazes me that so many members provide 'shopping' lists within their signatures.[size=12pt]However, many more (including me) give information away by bragging about the latest acquisition, a tool review, the latest project, etc.,. Using a Pseudonym may help.

Unfortunately self imposed restrictions within our discussions of tools and their use would be at the cost of continuing to make the FOG such a great resource for us all.

 

[Kev]

Motion sensing alarms, a dog, someone at home all the time, etc .. these are all positive deterrents. Anchoring a secure toolbox to a concrete floor can also be good.

Obvious engraving (subtle doesn't stop the theft itself) can reduce organised theft.

Generally keep things away from casual viewing potential.

You can also get some mean tattoos and park an ugly bike out the front with a empty shotgun holster on it [big grin]

 

[NHSP759]

Take pictures of your tools and keep them on file! Shane says register with Festool too! Home owners insurance in the USA will cover your theft but a lot less of a hassle if you have photos!

 

[wow]

Motion sensing alarms, a dog, someone at home all the time, etc .. these are all positive deterrents. Anchoring a secure toolbox to a concrete floor can also be good.

You can also get some mean tattoos and park an ugly bike out the front with a empty shotgun holster on it [big grin]

The best deterrent is to not let people know what you have in your shop, if possible. OpSec is key. People cannot see into my shop from the street, and that's by design. You have to come a fair way down my driveway to see anything, and by that time I've seen you and - more importantly - you've been recorded. I have a sacrificial camera mounted right outside of the entrance to the shop. It works, but it's old and low def. And it's just there to be a magnet for the scum who might want to rob me. The HD camera that covers the same area is hidden and not where it can be easily destroyed.

Of the remedies listed by Kev, I've found that a live person and a big dog are the best deterrent for thefts of opportunity. Just the fact that you're known to HAVE a big dog is often enough to make the potential thieves move on to easier pickins'.

If it's organized theft, a LOUD alarm - loud enough to hurt - and some high-definition security cameras (connected to a remote server) are your best bet. They may or may not prevent a theft, but the alarm will force the thieves to work more quickly, with less chance for carnage in the shop, and will help in the apprehension of the 'bad guys'. And it may help recover your stuff.

It's sad that we're having this discussion, but I guess there are low-life's the world over who think nothing of taking the tools of a man's trade, or anything else they can get their hands on. I can't stop them, but I don't intend to make it easy for them.

 

[sancho57]

Motion detector lights ad a small yip yip dog that will bark and any unusual noise. My little girl gets up in the middle of the night and barks at something some times, I think its a cat.

Crooks are afraid of being noticed and a little doggy barking its head off will get them noticed.

Thieves are  normally someone in your neighborhood so with the doggie barking at people as they walk by all day long the word gets out. Unless its a pikie who drives around looking for places to rob then then barking at the time of the robbery will scare them away.

Ive been in the living room ad she'll run to the sliding door for the backyard, barking at something I didnt hear or cant see.

Works for me.

 

[NHSP759]

Wow....my little guys is actually bigger for once!

 

[sancho57]

Mia is weighing in at 10LBS or 4.5 Kilos she is my sweety.

 

[jonny round boy]

Ideally I'd like to keep a fair amount of workshop tools and machines in the shed, so what are the best ways to stop thieves?

For some kit that weighs over 50 lbs I'm not sure it would be that easy to lift over fences, so is it worth  getting contents insurance cover for those items? Does the free Festool 3 year insurance in the UK cover stuff stolen from sheds?

Adding physical security (locks, bars, etc.) will only help deter the laziest of opportunist thieves. Increasing physical security will merely increase the level of violence and destruction a determined thief will use to gain entry, meaning more damage and more cost to repair.

Alarms are great & will obviously alert you to their presence, but they could be in & out before you can get there.

Personally, I really like the idea of the 'fog' systems (no pun intended) that fill the place with dense fog in seconds, so the thieves cannot see anything. As the blurb says, they cannot steal what they cannot see! They start at a few hundred quid for the smaller ones. The fog lasts for 10-20 minutes before dispersing, and allegedly leaves absolutely no residue so won't damage your tools in any way.





I like the idea of combining it with painfully loud alarms to drive the thief away (I wonder if the fog would trigger smoke alarms?).

You can also get 12v vehicle versions, which I'm going to add to my van once I can afford it - I need to stop buying Festools for a while... [embarassed]

 

[Kev]

I'd like to use poisonous gas on anyone that tried to pinch my stuff - not harmless fog! [mad]

Probably some silly law against that [embarassed] [sad]

 

[mattfc]

Just paint all your festool yellow.. won't get touched ;-)

 

[jonny round boy]

I'd like to use poisonous gas on anyone that tried to pinch my stuff - not harmless fog! [mad]

Probably some silly law against that [embarassed] [sad]

Yep, 'fraid so...

 

[mouppe]

My home insurance covers my workshop even though it is in a building 10 minutes drive away. It may be worth checking your policy or seeing if you can add your workshop to your policy. I have photos of my tools should there be a break-in. 

 

[wow]

I'd like to use poisonous gas on anyone that tried to pinch my stuff - not harmless fog! [mad]

Probably some silly law against that [embarassed] [sad]

Only if they catch you! Only if they catch you....

[wink]

 

[mastercabman]

I have the answer to your problem
Get 2 German Shepherd
Problem solve!

 

[wow]

I have the answer to your problem
Get 2 German Shepherd
Problem solve!

I have three, and I'm not getting rid of one for NOBODY!

[wink]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=12pt]

In my part time work, I come across many dogs. The only breed that has attacked me has been Labrador. Twice; two different dogs.

Shepherds are so cute! [big grin]

 

[mastercabman]

I have the answer to your problem
Get 2 German Shepherd
Problem solve!

I have three, and I'm not getting rid of one for NOBODY!

[wink]

You better not!

 

[Kev]

[size=12pt]

In my part time work, I come across many dogs. The only breed that has attacked me has been Labrador. Twice; two different dogs.

Shepherds are so cute! [big grin]

We have an "attack Lab" ... very protective and alert! They're extremely smart - ours is friendly once she's been "introduced properly" ... otherwise you're meat! [eek]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=12pt]

In my part time work, I come across many dogs. The only breed that has attacked me has been Labrador. Twice; two different dogs.

Shepherds are so cute! [big grin]

We have an "attack Lab" ... very protective and alert! They're extremely smart - ours is friendly once she's been "introduced properly" ... otherwise you're meat! [eek]

Yes Kev that fits in with my experience. At work when we are loading timber into a customers van/ute etc., ute dogs just want to say 'Hi', especially most Terriors, Boxers, Kelpies and WolfHounds and even Shepherds. Certainly most X breeds. But now I am very wairy of Labs.

The first time I was given a nip by a Lab I was so shocked. This is because when I was a school Principal one of the parents at my last school had a seeing eye Lab. She would come to my office occasionally very official in her seeing eye harness. When this was removed it was pat me pat me please.  [smile]