Garages and garden sheds are a popular target with burglars and are often overlooked when security is being considered.

Garages

Garages are frequently used for storing not only cars, motor bikes and cycles, but also property similar to those found in garden sheds, as well as DIY power tools and sporting equipment. Considering the value of the property contained therein, security precautions are often found to be wanting, and for this reason they are identified as easy targets by burglars.

If you already have a burglar alarm system, why not extend it to the garage? Alternatively, there are various stand-alone alarm devices on the market specifically designed for remote use in garages or sheds.

Garden sheds

The value of the contents, such as garden mowers, strimmers and cycles etc. can often add up to many hundreds of pounds. It is therefore wise to secure the shed door with at least one heavy-duty hasp and closed-shackle padlock.

The major problem with vulnerable garden sheds is that they provide burglars with an arsenal of house breaking implements, e.g. the garden spade: If a shed is too fragile to secure adequately, larger tools should be either bolted or padlocked to a heavy bench or frame, or kept in a more secure place such as a locked garage. Alternatively, tools can be secured by chaining them together.

For more information about home security contact your local PCSO or visit the Home Office Crime Reduction website