We have been made aware of a significant number of garage break-ins resulting in the theft of bicycles and tools. Please see the following tips to help prevent thefts from garages:
- Register your valuable items such as bikes, electronics, tools etc. for free on www.Immobilise.com.
- Take pictures of valuables and record their serial numbers and keep these safe. This information helps increase the chance of these items being returned to you if they are stolen.
- If possible, don’t store Christmas presents in the garage prior to the big day. Keep them inside the house but out of sight.
- Consider installing a Secured by Design approved anchor post inside the garage to which you can secure valuable items such as bikes.
- If your garage has an up and over door, consider installing an outer bracket and floor eyelet welded or bolted to the bottom of the door. This should be secured with a closed-shackle padlock. Alternatively if you access your garage via an internal door, you can drill a hole in the top channel above the wheels and insert a padlock into the hole.
- Never leave a garage or shed unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house.
- Visibly and permanently mark property using a Secured by Design-approved forensic property-marking kit.
- Think of securing windows with grills or heavy wire mesh to increase window security and the use of net curtains to deter casual viewing of the inside of your garage.