Garage Security

[elanfan1]

On another thread I've been asked to post up some basic guidance and thoughts on garage security based on my experience in previous employment as a security surveyor for major insurers. This can only ever be basic generic advice as you could quite literally write a book on it and as this period of my life is well in the past I don't think I have a book in me. The attached document is only 3 pages long so take a little look, It's amazing how often I looked at other people's premises with a fresh pair of eyes and discovered where they'd missed a lock or a bolt. A simple appraisal of your own security might be revealing.

Garage Security by Steve Loader.pdf

(103.5 KiB) Downloaded 692 times

I am happy to answer queries or make suggestions if you have anything specific you want to ask on the matter. I'll not be the only opinion on such things, there were times I disagreed with fellow surveyors and quite often with Crime Prevention Officers. So ask away if you want.

If this is considered to be a useful thread maybe you could ask for it to be stickied.

[UAB807F]

Thanks for posting Steve. I quite like the idea of a rise/lower bollard that you mentioned, my initial thoughts are that it might even work as an additional safeguard for the up and over doors if placed outside.

Brian

[elanfan1]

If installed externally they are a visual deterrent and hopefully stop a thief in his tracks. I quite like the idea of them behind a garage door so the thief has to break your perimeter security first perhaps set off an alarm and then finds he can't get the car anyway because of the bollard. Maybe that's just me.

These guys are very good having passed our preferred supplier inspection, not cheap at all but very secure. If you're minted they have automatic rising bollards. There used to be a video of one stopping a speeding truck on there, very impressive, might be still there somewhere.

http://www.atgaccess.com/product-catego ... car-parks/

[Chancer]

All good advice Steve, takes me back to a previous life!!

If you are fitting a burglar alarm contact to an up and over garage door. I used to fit two contacts (dont forget they must be in series) at either side if the door had a single central lock bolt, they would be say 2/3 of the way out to the side, not far enough that the alarm would trigger in high winds but it would go off if an opportunist had a heave on the door to see where it was resisting, scaring them away before they got Inside.

My knowledge is close to 30 years out of date now but the basics dont change.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Thanks Steve

Any advice for enhancing security at a rented lockup? My P&J will be living in one in a safe area for 6 months or so.

Remote controlled Up and over door, and all I have is the "clicker" to open and close it. No bolts as far as I can tell, it's just the electric motor which is keeping the door closed.

No access other than through the up and over.

There is a t-handle and another lock in the up and over door but I've no keys (I haven't asked either but I suppose I could)

It's a safe area as I said but any additional tips to the excellent article you posted gratefully received.


Best
Steve

[elanfan1]

Provided the owner doesn't object I don't think you could do much better than a pair of 5 lever mortice locks fitted to either edge of the door perhaps 18 inches from the floor. ERA used to do a keyed alike kit. It's fairly subtle so shouldn't attract attention and cheap enough for a temporary arrangement. Check the motor won't burn out if you operate it whilst locked.

Don't forget to immobilise the car. If you can try not to attract too much attention i.e don't work on the car with the garage open or take too long putting it away - the fewer people know it's there the better.

HTH

[Keith Scarfe]

5 lever mortice locks

I am watching this thread with interest also.

Could you explain the above a bit better. Do you have a link to a picture or something of this mortice lock that you mention? Do these bolt on the outside or are they embedded in the frame?

I was thinking of something like a garden gate type slide bolt going either into the floor or the frame of the door. But I think this would not look very nice on the garage door and just advertise there is something in there worth protecting. I would like something not visible at all from the outside, but not sure how to fix something to the flimsy door without a big reinforcing plate on the outside. Still thinking.
Cheers.

[elanfan1]

These locks are mortised into the edge of the door (depending on your door you might need some additional support inside but they are designed for the job and all you see outside are two escutcheon plates if indeed you bother to fit them. You could just leave a key shaped hole or paint the escutcheons to match the door colour to make them less obvious.

http://www.aldridgesecurity.co.uk/p-191 ... locks.aspx

Great bolts or locking bars and padlocks will have the local scroats dying to find out what's inside.

[Chancer]

One of the few of my old suppliers that I have retained since moving to France.

They are excellent if you have loads of different locks and want to create a master and sub-master keyed suite, I even have padlocks using the same keys as my door cylinder and mortice locks.

There are endless possibilities, I have one key that gets me in every door and padlock in both the UK and France, sub master keys to allow acess to all locks in each country, others to get in front and rear doors etc, here in my h?tel each guest key will get them into their apartment and also the front door.

All the Evva cylinders and padlocks were very good value.

[Spyder fan]

Metal up and over garage doors are quite flimsy construction I would suggest that whilst deadlocks are a good upgrade you need to consider using a hook bolt type deadlock to prevent the door being jemmied at the sides or at the bottom in the centre which would result in ordinary deadlocks being pulled clean out of their keeps.

This is the sort of thing I have on my garages. They are available on Ebay for around ?20 complete. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Narrow-Slidin ... 1600122780