Play it safe
Summer 2010 |
Whether you live in a house, a summer camp or an apartment, most people take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes are protected from break-ins and less attention to protecting valuable items stored outside the home. Valuable items can be stored in backyard sheds, garages, or off-site storage lockers. The risk of theft or vandalism of these items can be significant, particularly since they are often left unattended on a regular basis.
The majority of thieves and vandals will choose the easiest, fastest, and most vulnerable targets. A few simple precautions can keep property safe and secure regardless of where it's stored.
PREVENT ACCESS
- Prevent access to your yard by installing fences and gates. Lock gates with quality padlocks and use in conjunction with sturdy hasps, chains, or cables as necessary.
- Store all movable backyard items, including garden tools, expensive children's toys, and bikes, in a locked shed or garage. Use additional locks for easy to carry, high value items like tool boxes.
- If lawn mowers or barbecues must be left outside, lock them to fence posts, anchors or trees and hide them with tarps.
- Keep the garage door or storage locker closed and locked except when in use.
- Ensure that self storage and residential lockers are accessible only to you. Facility staff should not have access. Due to the lack of monitoring in these environments, it is recommended to use a high security padlock.
USE A PREMIUM PADLOCK
- Not all padlocks are created equal - premium or specialty padlocks can better withstand threats from thieves or vandals. Padlocks like Master Lock's Magnum line are extra strong to resist multiple attempts at cutting or prying.
- Choose a padlock with unmatched weather protection for outdoor use.
- A padlock is only as good as the chain or hasp it's fastened to. If thieves have no success violating the padlock, they will attempt to violate the hasp or chain. Double your protection and invest in a high quality hasp or chain if required.
ENHANCE VISIBILITY
- Lights deter thieves and vandals. Use lights or floodlights at possible entry points to your yard and garage. Motion sensor lights can be particularly effective.
- Padlock your circuit breaker box to protect lights from being turned off by intruders.
- Remove or cut back shrubs and tree limbs near entrances that can hide thieves as they access your yard.
- Self storage lockers should be monitored by security cameras and/or an on-site guard.
Master Lock is the world's largest manufacturer of padlocks and related security products, providing innovative security solutions for home, automotive, campus, power sports, bike and storage security needs for consumers and contractors alike. Master Lock Canada is located in Oakville.
This article was supplied by Master Lock Canada.
