Metal Bike Sheds
Steel sheds should be the most secure. At first glance (an opportunist thief’s rule of thumb), they look sturdy and well-protected against attack – which is a good thing. Even a determined intruder would need specialist tools to rip through the side walls – a process that would create as much noise as any security alarm.
However, except for dedicated secure sheds, metal sheds are not impervious to thieves. Firstly, the internal lock or padlock mount may not be strong enough to withstand a determined assault.
There are steps you can take to increase the strength of the door lock. The door hinges may not have the strength to resist a sledge hammer. A steel bar and an additional hasp bar with a high security padlock will significantly enhance the security of the entrance. Cheap and relatively easy to install, they should be sealed with silicon to keep the shed water-tight and to avoid rust.
Security Measures
You should probably focus most of your attention on securing bikes inside your shed, with a range of measures including:
- A PIR motion sensor alarm can be placed inside larger sheds: the screeching siren will deafen and startle many an intruder. If you have expensive bikes, consider bike alarms and a more sophisticated professional alarm system.
- Lock bikes to a fixed bike rack and tether cycles to each other to make manoeuvring them very difficult. The stronger the lock and thicker the cable, the better.
- Anchor your bike chain to the concrete base.
Security Sense
Whenever approaching the issue of home security, it’s important to consider:
- Sensor-activated lighting in your garden will deter some thieves and are worth considering to flood light your back yard.
- Where possible position your shed out of sight of the front of your property, and preferably behind tall fences and locked gates.
NB Please read your warranty before modifying your shed.