Thieves and burglars don’t like quality locks and lighting and are often deterred by simple upgrades on your property. Step up your security measures with these tools:
Hidden shackle locks: Often used on tractor-trailer doors, homeowners and businesses can use hidden shackle locks on storage sheds and other structures easily accessed from the outside. These locks can be purchased at home improvement and hardware stores and are effective because there is no real practical way to cut the lock with bolt cutters. Furthermore, prying them out of the door is time-consuming and noisy as the core is set into the lock. The investment is minimal, about $40, but the peace of mind is invaluable.
ATV/Bike Locks: These locks are simple, yet effective. One example, a disc brake lock, attaches to a wheel on the bike or ATV. And for those who want to spend a little more on security, there are even more sophisticated locks in this family that have a built-in motion detector alarm. These locks can be purchased at motorcycle shops, online, and at some home improvement stores and range in price from $40 to $90.
Residential Locks: Exterior home doors should be secured by quality deadbolt locks that extend at least one inch into a security strike plate made of heavy-gauge steel secured in the doorframe.
Exterior Lighting: Burglars like to work in the dark and a simple light shining on a shed or other structure helps deter theft and criminal activity. Consider investing in motion detector lights on the exterior of your house and sheds. These lights turn on automatically at night when sensing motion, which can scare off someone prowling around.
No one can prevent all crime, but these specialized locks, along with good lighting, can help deter would-be thieves.