Locking up the shed

Hey everyone!

I've just bought myself an allotment and am concerned about what's the best padlock to use to lock the shed up with.
I've been checking out these weatherproof padlocks but I would like to get some feed back from anyone who has some helpful advise on this matter.



Jenni x

 

I wouldn't worry too much about weatherproof, more about getting something that is hard to bypass with bolt cutters - including the flappy-thing that it holds back and the hinges on the door itself (and any windows etc.)

No sense having a big padlock if the flappy-thing has accessible screws, or the door can just be removed at the hinge-side with a breaker-bar :(

 

You dont need a long shackle padlock, a short shakle one is all you need.A long shakle padlock is very valunerable to bolt croppers saws etc. The lock you showed is also fairly easy to pick (I certainly can).

If your going to keep anything valuble like strimmer rotorvator etc then make sure the hindges are secured using coach bolts aswell as screws.

I f your keeping anything valuble then Id sudgest the following:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/23300...ackleless-Padlock-Hasp-14mm-dia-Shackle-188mm

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/89899...curity-Padlocks/Heavy-Duty-Steel-Padlock-50mm

One other thing, if your keeping a few big items then chain them together so they are difficult to move.

 

I don't lock my shed, on the basis that the wood of the shed is much weaker than any lock I would use. Few burglars are subtle with breaking in. The quality of the padlock isn't important if the door is taken off by the hinges. So I keep the valuables elswhere.

Sorry that isn't much help, but I think it is often the reality of what happens

 

" Few burglars are subtle with breaking in"

Here! hear! (Sorry, significant dyslexic influence here!!)

Here's a transcript, from memory, of a conversation with my Gardener, Tom, in a September several-years-ago when he was cutting the hedges ...

Tom : "Someone has broken into the shed ..."

Me : "... Bloody hell! ..."

".. and nicked the hedge cutter ..."

"... Bloody hell! ..."

"I've been meaning to tell you that the hedge cutter was on its last legs and we needed a new one ..."

"... Oh! ..."

"... and they also nicked the fuel can ..."

"... Bloody hell! ..."

"... you know the one? the big red can? It had two self tapping screws which I put in to fix the leaks ..."

"... Bloody hell! ..."

Tom had been cutting the hedges for a week or more, I suspect someone had a) seen him at it and b) had some hedges to do. Our brand new £N,000 cylinder mower was untouched. But they had completed destroyed the padlock, and the door "furniture", with their crow-bar.

(True story)

 

Its certainly food for thought, just been looking at buying some more security chain and stumbled across this site, check out the video of the chins being tested...

http://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/index.asp?pg=19

alarming what £300 of 42" high tensile croppers will do to £100 chain!!! Up to now I thought the fact I have 3 padlocks on the door, an alarm mine and chains around everything was secure.