Shed Security Bar

Why should you buy a shed security bar?

Why consider a shed security bar? You (hopefully) keep your home safe and secure, but how about any other buildings on your property? In particular, you may have a garden with a shed, an outhouse, summer house, lean-to or tool shack. Inside you might keep anything from a lawn mower, expensive tool set, hobby equipment, power tools or even stereo/TV and other electronic equipment.

Nowadays, thieves know that sheds often contain valuable items worth stealing, and that sheds are often weakly-protected if at all. They represent a tempting opportunity to break in quickly and easily, grab some costly items and make a speedy getaway.

Sheds are often not particularly visible from the main house and can be in a dark area at night. So what can a householder do to deter potential thieves from opportunistic garden shed burglary?

A Simple Step You Can Take

There are several costly and maintenance-demanding options, such as CCTV cameras, security lighting and even dedicated alarm systems. But often, these will not really be worth the investment of time and money. How can you take simple steps to encourage the opportunistic burglar to skip your shed and move on?

What you need is something solid, simple and highly visible. This is where the shed security bar comes in. Most burglars will automatically go to the door first when considering breaking in. A large, sturdy shed security bar will deter all but the most determined thief straight-away.

Fitted half way up, across the door, a shed security bar will secure the door at both the hinge and lock side, providing an instant deterrent. Normally, it will be hinged at one end or in the middle so it can pivot to allow the owner to unlock and enter. Padlocks at one or both ends secure the whole safely.

Of course, the bar will only be as good as the padlocks (with a more determined burglar), so make sure these are heave-duty and thief-proof. The thickness of the bar is important, also. Look for 900mm to 1800mm. Prices range from around £30 to £100. Bars are available to fit most sizes of door, including double doors.

At the end of the day, a determined thief is almost always going to able to break into a garden shed. However, psychology and visible deterrents play a very important role in discouraging a thief. A shed security bar is one of the best and simplest options that fits the bill in this respect.

How to Choose?

Obviously, in general the more you spend, the more secure the shed security bar will be. Deciding on a double padlock bar that pivots in the middle, or a single padlock hinged at one end is the first thing to decide. The quality of padlock and thickness of bar are the next crucial points.

Think about what you store in the shed, how valuable to you they are, and how much you want to deter would-be thieves. Decide on a budget and then get recommendations. As always, the Internet is a good source for tips and ideas, so check any relevant message boards and forums for the latest shed security bar "best buys".