Author Topic: Workshop Security  (Read 76881 times)

Offline raynerd

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Workshop Security
« on: July 22, 2009, 04:16:57 PM »
As I continue to build up more and more equipment, I grow more concerns about the security in my workshop. I`m just curious as to what steps you all take to ensure your shop is safe. I haven`t got a huge budget but I`m interested to learn more about what is available and what precautions you all take...


Chris

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2009, 04:28:20 PM »
I have a full security system at my house. One that is monitored etc... Plus I have 2 very large dogs. One of them, a German Shepherd. Sales people and other door to door types tend not to stick around for long when she starts to bark...

Eric
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Offline sbwhart

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2009, 04:43:09 PM »
Chris

Bars on the window, Blind over the window so you can't see in, High fence and gate around the property, A shed alarm you can get them from B and Q for about 20 squid, Good solid yale lock, Keep it quite what's in your shop, You can get insurance for your shop.

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Offline John Hill

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2009, 05:24:10 PM »
My workshop is part of the house and I have a very loud electric bell that will ring whenever any garage door is open unless I have deliberately switched them off.

I keep the windows covered and I do not work with the doors open (less time for passers by to see the goodies).

I have a small box at the front door which has a numeric keypad, a keylock and a nice flashing LED on the front.  The LED is powered by the door bell circuit.


No problems yet, fingers crossed.
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Offline Darren

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2009, 05:33:49 PM »
People watched as my workshop was being emptied....they thought I was moving out.

No-one took a registration number or asked any questions....bells, though they can help for the casual thief they can be silenced quite quickly.

Having said all that you have to do what you can, my garage has a wireless camera linked to the house and will have a loud bell.....
You will find it a distinct help… if you know and look as if you know what you are doing. (IRS training manual)

Offline raynerd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2009, 07:37:21 PM »
Thanks for the suggestions - all of the usual I have got, lock, large fence and I don`t really discuss with people what is in there. I was hoping to go for some sort of cheap alarm that would ring in the house if a door is opened. I don`t think people care about burgerlar alarms, I`m guilty, if I hear an alarm I think "damn alarm" not "oooh best go check that house for a thief!" It would ideally be for night time, you know so it wakes me up if the door is opened.

Stew, I`ll take a look at the BQ alarms, may be useful.
John Hill - how is your bell wired then, is it like what Stew mentioned, a shed alarm or is it something you have hooked up yourself?

Chris

Offline raynerd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2009, 07:39:04 PM »
btw, Eric, I have a Cavalier Kind Charles and he tends to draw people over to the house to pet him rather than scare them away!!  :lol:

Offline John Hill

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2009, 09:26:52 PM »
Chris, the bell is simply wired to 'normally open' switches on all the doors, if anyone opens the doors the bell will ring.
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Offline shred

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2009, 10:03:18 PM »
I'm in good with the retired neighbors. ;) They check up on everybody even slowing down by the house.  The other half is home unemployed now too :(

I do work with the garage door open a bit, so I know the neighbors (unlike many US locations, people actually stroll up and down the sidewalks here) and every so often one will drop in to see what I'm up to or borrow a tool, but I also try to make it so there's not much in the way of 'goodies' (toolboxes are a big one) that can be seen from the street-- only the back of the mill and at 1600 lbs, it'll take 'em a while.  It took the "3-stooges-rigging-company" a good hour of alternate cursing and hysterical late night laughter to get it in.


« Last Edit: July 22, 2009, 11:51:08 PM by shred »

Offline shred

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2009, 11:49:03 PM »
Ah, I discovered a security hole in my setup tonight. ::) Since it rained for the first time in ages it was cool enough to open the garage door and let some air in.  As it was dark I only opened it a couple feet.  I'm fiddling away cutting something on the mill and out of the corner of my eye I see the cat come wandering in under the door.  She's not supposed to be out, and especially not around front...  Except it's not the cat, it's a large opossum, and none too scared of me.  I grabbed something and threw it at it before remembering the camera, but it looked about like this, though just kinda sniffing around checking the place out looking for food.



Must consider security netting or laser tripwire :)

« Last Edit: July 22, 2009, 11:54:33 PM by shred »

bogstandard

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2009, 12:30:31 AM »
A cat and a dog work wonders for vermin, cat catches, plays and gets it cornered, Jack Russell runs in and finishes it off. Done and dusted in a couple of seconds.

For my shop, no windows, steel doors (easy to get past, but look formidable), full IR alarm system, that if you fart in there when you shouldn't, it goes off. A Jack Russell and a fat cat flap work wonders, he is out and warning, day or night, if anyone gets near the surrounding 6ft fence of the rear garden. I think he must sleep with one eye open and one ear on alert.

If they did manage to bypass it all, if they can carry it and still get away, they are welcome to it. I have every piece of machinery and it's related tooling catalogued with photos, so insurance claims shouldn't be a problem.


Bogs

Offline raynerd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2009, 03:35:37 AM »
Quote
I have every piece of machinery and it's related tooling catalogued with photos, so insurance claims shouldn't be a problem

That is a good point, I may well do that. I need to look into my home insurance policy and see what is covered in there, I guess you would have to pay for specialist cover as someone has already mentioned to have it all insured.

Offline Mr blindbird

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2009, 06:06:54 PM »
Perfect timing this topic,
on saturdaynight,i did get an unwanted visitor,him trying to prye open the old wooden door of my shop that cracks and pieps woke me up and hang out the window as the shop is on the same side,i only saw a dark figure.
My first reflex  was just yell as loud as i could,wich made him take off like a grashopper,my yard is closed of by one side with a 10 feet hi concrete wall wich was no obstikle for the guy tojump upto and climbe over in secconds,gone with nothing but my nightrest.
I've been thinking over several possible safety items,all been mentioned above but i wanted to add one more;it apeared to me that in the 37 years i lived here,i never had any unwanted visitors,only now when i bought my lathe and all the tooling needed,this guy pops up,not only the right timing but also,he seemed to know exactly where to go look for the goodys.
So my thoughts were going in the direction of the moving company that brought in the machine and the fact that nowaday hoodlums are following up maybe on the digital side ,maybe able to check customerlists of companys and what's been sold to them.
One thing i think is indeed the most important start of keeping away the nightcrawlers;try to keep the number of people knowing what you have to a absolute minimum,it may feel fancy to show off all tha lathes,mills and shiny tools but you never know how far the word goes...

Danny
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If aditional force still doesnt do the trick...you should have checkt if it's a right or left thread first...

Offline Bernd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #13 on: July 23, 2009, 08:25:51 PM »
Here in the states, and especially out in the country were I live, we still use a device the throws about an ounce of lead with a loud noise. Nobody cares much when they hear this. They just figgure your coon hunting.

So I'm tempted to hang up a sign that says, "Notice: Unless you are a family member, invited guest or making a delivery you are tresspassing and will be shot on site"

(note: the above is said with tounge in cheek.)

Bernd
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Offline raynerd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2009, 04:22:49 AM »
Bernd - I`d be interested to know how quickly the police would call around if you hung up a sign like that here in England. I dare say over here if you found someone in your shop, you gave them a wack, I thought you would end up on the wrong side of the law..  :bang:

Offline John Hill

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2009, 04:37:25 AM »
Bernd - I`d be interested to know how quickly the police would call around if you hung up a sign like that here in England. I dare say over here if you found someone in your shop, you gave them a wack, I thought you would end up on the wrong side of the law..  :bang:

Well yes, it is like that in a lot of countries.  You see there is seen to be a difference between crimes against property and crimes against person and it is considered that crimes against property are not as serious as crimes against person so assaulting someone's person in order to protect your property is not on.  Pretty simple really.
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Offline Darren

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2009, 04:45:37 AM »


Well yes, it is like that in a lot of countries.  You see there is seen to be a difference between crimes against property and crimes against person and it is considered that crimes against property are not as serious as crimes against person so assaulting someone's person in order to protect your property is not on. 

Well it should be on......shoot em...dig hole...and forget all about it.....

Nothin but scum...


Over here, you find them, ring police, wait several hours if not days depending how busy they are, (in my case it was over a week) for them to give you a crime No' for your insurance company so you can make a claim.

The actual crime is of no interest to them....... but if you thump the intruder with something soft like a baseball bat, or let your dog play with him you could well end up being locked up for partaking in a little crime prevention....


That is why we have so much crime over here.....
You will find it a distinct help… if you know and look as if you know what you are doing. (IRS training manual)

Offline raynerd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2009, 04:48:04 AM »
It is crazy that you can not be physical with someone to get them off your property if they are thieving from you? - and I dare say that these are the people that would give you a good wollop first!

So you catch someone in your shop - have you just meant to ask them nicely to please leave, ohhh and if they wouldn`t mind, it would be awfully nice if they could leave the equipment in their pockets back when they got it from!!  :bang: :doh: :poke:

Offline raynerd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2009, 04:51:13 AM »

That is why we have so much crime over here.....

I agree - they going out a night knowing that if someone catches them they aren`t going to necessarily retaliate! I think crime would drastically be reduced if they know they could be shot on site on someone elses property!! I never have to go on anyone elses property so it doesn`t worry me... :ddb:

Offline Bernd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2009, 09:23:15 AM »
Bernd - I`d be interested to know how quickly the police would call around if you hung up a sign like that here in England. I dare say over here if you found someone in your shop, you gave them a wack, I thought you would end up on the wrong side of the law..  :bang:

I've heard that.

We could get into a real political disscusion here. Like I said it was more of something to chukle at than acutally do. I think I'd have the same problem hear as things are heating up on gun control. So time to get serious and drop this subject for me.

Bernd
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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #20 on: July 24, 2009, 11:27:57 AM »
PLEASE DO!

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #21 on: July 24, 2009, 11:39:27 AM »
I gotta agree with John and Bernd. One of the things that will rile people up is political discussions (I think religion is the other). I have seen far too many threads destroyed because they get political. So... as much as the idea of shop security is important, lets stick to that and drop anything political or firearms related.  :med:

Carry on.  :borg:


Thanks
Eric
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Offline CrewCab

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #22 on: July 24, 2009, 01:40:14 PM »
Though, something along these lines could make a good deterrent, sadly also probably frowned upon though

CC

Offline raynerd

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #23 on: July 24, 2009, 01:41:40 PM »
Back on topic - I have been to my local lock shop who showed me a nice little gadget - £30 and it is about the size and shape as a regular smoke detector. You stick it on the wall above the door and basically it is a motion sensor and goes off should anyone enter. It comes with a remote, so you just click the remote button to turn it off before you enter. Something to consider .... ?

cc - could be a plan!

Offline CrewCab

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Re: Workshop Security
« Reply #24 on: July 24, 2009, 01:59:35 PM »
Just be wary in a shed / outbuilding though, things that work well in a house can be a little too sensitive in draughty outbuildings and, if an odd rodent gets in .................  :bugeye:

CC