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Many people take great care when securing their homes but pay little attention to the security of their sheds, garages or outbuildings that are often used to store valuable property.

Make sure your shed is in good condition and would stand up to a security test. If not, take steps to improve it or don’t leave valuable items such as lawn mowers, golf clubs and bicycles inside.

Once the fabric of the building is in sound condition you can then go on to improve its physical security.

Secure your shed

1. Use a closed shackle padlock not less than 2.5 inches in width, made of hardened steel with no less than five pins. A standard small padlock with hasp and staple fastening can easily be forced or cut by bolt cutters.

2. The fittings should be bolted through the door of the shed and reinforced at the back with a steel plate.

3. The hasp should have concealed screws or coach bolts fitted.

4. Use the lock at all times.

5. Protect glass by fitting a grille or strong wire mesh to the inside of the window and fit locks to any windows that can be opened.

6. Prevent anyone seeing into your shed by placing curtains or other coverings over the window or blacken them out with paint.

7. Make sure that you can see your shed from the house. If it is obstructed from view a thief has a better chance of breaking in without being seen.

Garages

1. Much of the advice for garden sheds also applies to garages. In addition you should consider fitting:

2. A drive post on the outside of an up-and-over door. It will stop the door being opened and is a visible deterrent.

3. Good quality closed shackle padlocks with hasp and staple on either side of the door.

4. Five lever mortise locks to connecting doors if the garage is attached to the main building. Make sure the locks comply with British Standard 3621.

5. Fitting a simple, low cost, battery operated shed alarm to the door of your shed or garage will warn of any attempted break in to your property and can act as a deterrent.

Secure your outbuilding

Often property and equipment stored in your outdoor property is valuable and can easily be sold on by thieves. You should never leave tools or ladders lying around the garden. Always store garden furniture or tools away in a secure place when they are not in use.

Make sure you:

1. Security mark your property in as many places as you can with your name and postcode.

2. Take photographs of any valuable property. If the police recover them after a burglary, this will be proof that they are yours.

3. Never leave items unattended, even if you are just popping into the house.

4. Try to secure items such as bicycles to the structure of the building or chain as many items together as possible, fastening the chain with a closed shackle padlock. This would make it more difficult for a thief to make away with the item.

Deterring burglars

As well as making your property secure you can also make it difficult for a thief to get to it. Here are some simple steps:

1. Install security lights to illuminate the front porch and/or the garden. There are two types; lights that come on automatically, when it is dark and turn themselves off when its light or lights operated by sensors that come on when movement is detected.

2. Keep shrubs, hedges and large plants cut back. They can provide a screen for thieves to work behind.

3. Keep your boundary fences, walls and gates in good repair as they provide a barrier to the would-be thief. It is recommended that fences are maintained at a height of 1.8m at the sides and rear of the house with gates that are lockable at the same height.

4. Keep an eye out on your neighbour’s property and encourage them to do the same for you. Report anything suspicious to the police.

5. Consider setting up, or becoming a member of a neighbourhood watch scheme.