Keep your garage or shed secure

Advice to protect your tools or equipment from becoming stolen goods.

When protecting your home, it is not just the house itself you have to think about.

Reports of thefts from outbuildings, sheds and garages are an issue, too – particularly in rural areas.

To prevent theft of items such as bicycles, lawnmowers or power tools, consider:

using a forensic asset marking or etching kit to security mark your tools and equipment
register the security marking details on the Immobilise website – this can help if they are stolen
connecting your house alarm to the outbuilding, or fitting a new alarm
using high-security locks and chains to secure valuable equipment

Contents insurance

Make sure your contents insurance covers the items stored within your garage, shed or outbuilding.

Garages are often used as additional storage, rather than as the main place to leave a vehicle.

However, by using it as a place to park, this can reduce the chances of your vehicle being stolen or damaged if parked on the street or a driveway.

If your garage has a window, keep it locked or consider placing a grille over the window.
Use a ground anchor to stop motorcycles or bicycles from being easily removed.
Consider using floor-mounted T bars or a garage door defender to make your garage door more secure.
Double garage doors with a rim latch should be supplemented with a mortice deadlock.
If you have a traditional up-and-over garage door, drilling a hole through the channel above the wheels and fit a padlock.
- Alternatively, fit a hasp and staple each side of the door with a padlock or fit a specialist lock.
Cover up any valuable items, especially if they can be seen from outside.
Tidy away any tools – as intruder may attempt to use these to break into your home.
Consider extending your burglar alarm to include your garage or use a separate audible alarm system.

If you have an internal door leading from your garage into your home, make sure the door is solid and robust and consider extra security such as:

If you are installing a new garage door, consider replacing it with an accredited Secured By Design product.

Many criminals target sheds to steal tools and then use those tools to break into your home.

To prevent entry to your shed, you could consider installing:

To prevent criminals from simply lifting smaller sheds to gain entry, make sure it is firmly anchored down into the ground.

For more information, see Secured By Design’s advice on how to secure sheds.