The 14 Shed Security Measures Every Homeowner Ought To Know About
There are many options for securing your shed starting at all different price points
Table of Contents
THERE IS NOTHING worse than getting up in the morning to find some “kind” person has broken into your garden shed.
It probably wouldn’t be too bad if all you did was store a few tools and some junk out there. But, you had hundreds of dollars’ worth of tools and a couple of very expensive bikes stored out there.
Now that you have joined the ranks of several of your neighbors who have had the same experience. It’s finally time to take your shed’s security a bit more seriously.
Here we are going to take a good look at 14 different shed security options that may help prevent this from happening to you.
The Shed Security Options and How They Rank
Shed Security Comparison Table (click/tap to expose)
1. Alarm Systems
- A great way to notify you something is going on
Installing some form of alarm system in your shed is one of the best ways to keep thieves at bay.
There are a number of different types of alarm systems on the market today. Some use audible sirens or horns that go off when someone is trying to break in. Others are silent and can notify the police and you via an app on your cellphone or an in-house monitor.
There are many homeowners are now adding their shed into the same monitored alarm system they use to protect their house. If you are interested in more information about running an alarm system, you can find costs and other info below
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Let's you know someone is breaking in | Audible alarms may annoy neighbors |
Best deterrent to thieves | Can be very expensive |
Monitored alarms can have the police on their way in munutes | may not work for all types of sheds |
Image Courtesy of Amazon
2. Upgraded locks
- New locks are relatively inexpensive security option
Adding new security locks to your shed is a great way to keep burglars at bay. That is as long as the rest of your shed is properly secured. You don’t even have to pay anyone to install them for you, which helps keep the cost down.
Be sure to buy a good quality, heavy duty security lock, preferably a deadbolt style lock. You may also want to consider adding a steel or brass reinforcing plate to the door frame for added security.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Much better than standard locks | Can still be picked or kicked in |
Easy to install yourslef | Requires a strong door and frame |
Relatively inexpensive | May not stop a dedicated theif |
Image Courtesy of Amazon
3. Upgraded Hinges
- A great addition to installing a new door lock
If you are going to install a new security lock, you should also consider adding a pair of security hinges.
These heavy duty hinges are designed to stop someone from removing them and accessing your shed or kicking the door in.
If you are going to install new security hinges, be sure to use security screws when you do as they will ensure no one can remove them along with the door.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Relatively inexpensive | Must have a strong door |
Easy to install | Must have a strong door or frame |
Do it yourself installation | Truly only work with a solid door/frame. |
Image Courtesy of Amazon
4. Frosting Windows
- Tinting or frosting keeps prying eyes out
You can keep prying eyes at bay by adding a tint or frosting your windows. If no one can see what you have in your shed, they may be less likely to break in and steal from you.
You can buy cans of spray-on frosting from most hardware stores or use rolls of tint or frosting to get the job done. Best of all you can do the work yourself and save money and time.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Very inexpensive | May reduce the amount of natural light |
Easy to install | Tint often fades overtime |
No need to hire a professional installer | You can't see out of frosted windows |
Image Courtesy of Amazon
5. Sensor/Yard Lights
- A must for anyone who has a shed
Motion sensor yard lights are considered by many to be one of the best deterrents to would-be thieves. You can also use lights with sensors that turn them on at dusk and off at dawn.
Be sure your lights illuminate the area around your shed thoroughly so that there are no areas of shadow where a thief could hide. Try not to aim them in such a way as to annoy your neighbors to avoid conflicts with them.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Relatively affordable | May run your power bill up |
Highly recommended by security experts | May have to have professionally installed |
Adds light you can use to your backyard | Might annoy your neighbors |
6. Clear the Area around Your Shed
- This is no brainer
While those bushes and shrubs might look great around your shed, you need to get rid of them or prune them back.
Bushes and shrubs make the perfect hiding place for thieves to hide while they wait for the perfect moment to break into your shed.
You don’t necessarily have to completely remove them, but you need to trim them back. Just make sure they are cut back to the point where no one can hide behind them.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
No real cost unless you need to buy pruning tools | Your shed might lose some of its outer beauty |
Ensures you can see what's going on | Shrubs make a good windbreak |
You can definitely do this yourself | You may have to paint your shed |
7. Concrete Bollards
Keep your shed where it belongs
While shed thefts typically do not involve stealing the entire shed, it can happen.
If you have a garden shed that is little more than big enough for a couple of bikes and your gear, it is not hard to believe someone could slide it on a trailer and make off with everything.
If you can’t secure this type of shed to a wall or concrete foundation, adding a number of conveniently placed concrete bollards can stop a shed thief in his tracks.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Keep your shed in place | Can be expensive |
Permanent protection | Needs professional installation |
Completely weatherproof | Somewhat unsightly |
8. Fix Shed to Foundation
- Permanent solution to disappearing sheds
If you built your shed on a concrete foundation, why not bolt it down. This permanently installs your shed in place.
It also guarantees you should never have to worry about anyone finding a way to drive away with your shed. The best way to do this is to set the bolts into the concrete foundation when it is first poured.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Very permanent solution | Harder to do on an existing foundation |
No one can see your shed is secured | May need to be done by a professional |
Relatively inexpensive | Could cause problems if you want to move shed |
Image Courtesy of Amazon
9. Floor Anchors
Excellent way to secure items like bikes, motorcycles, ATVs
Once you have your shed secured into place and secure locks and hinges, you can go one step further. Adding one or more floor anchors gives you a way to secure any number of valuable things to the floor of your shed.
Along with bikes and ATVS, you can also secure tool boxes, electrical equipment, and large power tools. You can use floor anchors with wood or concrete floors with almost the same amount of security.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Great way to lock valuable items in place. | Limits where you can store certain items |
Can be used on any type of floors | Works best when set into concrete floors |
Easy do-it-yourself installation | Can be ripped out of wooden floors |
Image Courtesy of Amazon
10. Camera Fake/Real
- Both may help deter thieves
While both types of camera may help to deter thieves, if you are going with fakes, be sure to add wiring and get the ones with an active light.
If you stick a cheap fake camera in place no real thief will be fooled. Real cameras will not only deter the thief, but will also give you a recorded image that might help the police find them and charge them with the crime.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Fake cameras are very affordable | Fake cameras rarely fool anyone |
Real cameras capture images for the police | Real cameras/equipment can be expensive |
Both let thieves think you are watching | May require professional installation |
11. Get a Dog
Nothing like adding a furry friend to the family
Your family will probably be over the moon when you bring home a four-legged furry friend. A big dog that barks every time someone enters your backyard will likely keep thieves at bay.
Of course, this means you will need to keep him or her out in the yard all the time, which is not really the best way to treat the poor creature. Breeds like German Shepherd, Doberman, Pit Bull Terrier, and Rottweiler all make good guard dogs.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
If trained right, dogs make great pets | Guard dogs are not always good pets |
Big, loud dogs will scare most thieves off | Your neighbors might object to the noise |
Relatively inexpensive security option | Dogs make a lot of mess to clean up |
12. Insurance
Won't stop thieves but will replace what he takes
If you are going to store a lot of expensive items in your shed, you should invest in an insurance policy that covers everything. Your insurance should also cover the shed itself.
Check with your agent, you may be able to add your shed and contents to your homeowner’s policy for a small increase in your premium. Be sure your policy states what is covered and what is not.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
May replace what you lose | Won't stop the thief |
May even replace the shed itself | May have to buy a separate policy |
Gives you peace of mind | Can be a bit expensive |
Image by Amazon
13. Mark Your Property
- Make it obvious your property belongs to you
While marking your property may not prevent someone from stealing from you, it makes your items much harder to sell.
If a would-be thief happens to note that your items are clearly marked, he may think twice about stealing them as he won’t be able to get much for them. This is assuming he can even find someone who will buy them.
To do this, all you will need is an engraver or dremmel machine. If you only have a few items, the key cutting and shoe repair people at your local mall will also most likely do engraving.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Easy to do | Can make it hard for you to sell items |
Permanent solution | You can't remove the markings |
Makes items hard to sell for the thief | Not all items can be marked |
Image Courtesy of Amazon
14. Reinforce/Replace the Door
- Turn your shed into a virtual vault
The door to your shed is perhaps its biggest area of vulnerability. You can easily reinforce the door with metal bars, strips, and plates or replace it with a solid wood door. You can also install a steel door.
All of these options will only serve to make your shed that much more secure. Bear in mind that no matter what type of door you install, you should still use upgraded locks and hinges to further reduce your vulnerability to break-ins and theft.
pros | cons |
|---|---|
Simple do-it-yourself method of improving your shed's security | Can be hard to find a door if yours is non-standard |
Permanent solution | Steel doors can be expensive |
Makes it much harder for a thief to break in | Not all items can be marked |
More Shed Security Information
Here is a great video about security produced by a police officer:
In Summary...
No one wants to wake up to a shed that has been broken into and find all of their stuff has been stolen. Rather than choosing only one of the above security upgrades for your shed, you will find that incorporating as many of them as you can will make your shed as secure as possible.
However, if you are on a limited budget, the least you should do is upgrade the door, hinges, and locks as these simple relatively inexpensive steps will serve to keep most thieves out and your things safely locked in.
If you have any other ideas, contact us via our contact page.
Thanks for reading
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