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Has your shop ever been robbed?

1K views 16 replies 14 participants last post by  TopamaxSurvivor 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
its a weird question but I have been thinking about my tool storage prospects.

Generally when I go anywhere for any length of time I trundle my more valuable tools out of my shop and into a more secure location, which leads to a lot of lugging heavy tools (mostly hand tools) in and out of my shop.

This has been getting me thinking, what would an average thief target? most of my most prominent power tools aren't even my most valuable tools. Would they gravitate to the recognizable table saw and belt sander and neglect the demure looking (but valuable) compass plane and Japanese Chisels? would they even bother with the heavier tools like the band saw? or would they smash and grab every small plane and chisel they could get to quickly?

I am curious if anyone has had this experience and would like to share so that others might learn a lesson from it. I am hoping this can generate some good discussion out of what would otherwise be a terrible experience. thank you all!
 
#2 ·
I had my shop broken in to. The would be thief didn't get anything as I was home at the time and they learned I'm not to keen on people taking my things.

The thing Meth Head Johnny went straight for is my cordless tools. Police said most garage/shop break-ins are a quick smash and grab. Cordless tools are one of the most reported thefts. Most of the time thieves are looking for the quickest profit over the most profit.

Like you I have many antique hand tools worth a hell of a lot more than some Rigid cordless tools but like a moth to a flame that is where Johnny went first.
 
#3 ·
I had my shop broken in to. The would be thief didn t get anything as I was home at the time and they learned I m not to keen on people taking my things.

The thing Meth Head Johnny went straight for is my cordless tools. Police said most garage/shop break-ins are a quick smash and grab. Cordless tools are one of the most reported thefts. Most of the time thieves are looking for the quickest profit over the most profit.

Like you I have many antique hand tools worth a hell of a lot more than some Rigid cordless tools but like a moth to a flame that is where Johnny went first.

- sansoo22
That's really good info, I am sorry that happened to you but that is actually really helpful.
 
#4 ·
yes - when I lived in Georgia.
broke a window to gain access and the only thing missing was some high-end fishing tackle.
go figure = that means that someone must have been actually IN my shop to know it was there.
other than that, no. but, someone did take a 12" Dewalt miter saw out of an unlocked shed.
 
#5 ·
No I live in the boonies. Thankfully I've always had decent neighbors and we looked out for each others places and texted or called when something didn't seem right. I have mostly cheaper stuff and figured nothing was much worth taking though. $4000 could probably replace almost every tool I have. I thief would be better off stealing the converters off the cars than get into my shop.
A dog and some motion sensor lights would probably go a long way too
 
#6 ·
A dog and some motion sensor lights would probably go a long way too

- JCamp
I have a dog. He slept thru the whole ordeal. I asked him about it the next morning and he said he's 13 and retired from guard duty a couple years ago. I must have missed the memo.

I like to dabble with home automation so after the break in I put in a smart switches for my exterior lights out back. Light under the covered patio comes on at dusk and off at dawn. The flood lights are on a motion sensor and light most of the back yard.

Inside the shop I made locking shutters for the side window and one for the man door. I also got a new security strike plate and security hinges for the man door. Everything is now attached firmly to the 2×4s and should be pretty hard to kick in.

If we are going to be gone overnight for any reason I make sure to lock the overhead door and since my hand tool bench is on pop up casters I plant that firmly in front of the man door. It weighs a couple hundred pounds so good luck moving it out of the way.
 
#7 ·
This has been getting me thinking, what would an average thief target?

I am curious if anyone has had this experience and would like to share so that others might learn a lesson from it..
I've been robbed multiple times in my life. Thieves typically don't want your actual stuff, they want what they can get for your stuff.. Knew a guy who would often have to buy his tools back from the local pawn shops, back in the day before they became the respectable businesses they are now - was very frustrating.

Security comes at a cost though: financial, mental, emotional, etc… The line where risk crosses reward is different for everyone. Keep your insurance paid up and do what's right for you.
 
#8 ·
I keep my more precious small tools less accessible from the doorways.

They will usually just grab the closest thing of value they can carry.
 
#9 ·
I have a keypad on my garage. Thieves have tried to enter the code. Box has even been tampered with. Won't work because I keep the digital lock enabled that prevents the box (and remotes) from opening the door. Keeping the garage door locked when not in use also prevents me from hitting a remote by accident should I forget it in my jacket pocket.

All doors and windows including garage door are alarmed. So if they happen to make it past the digital lockout, the physical lock, and open the garage door, the alarm will sound.

I sleep pretty well at night knowing nothing can walk away.

I also make sure not to store my car keys near the door because people can clone the code through the wall/door and then go steal your car if it is outside.
 
#10 ·
Fact is, there aren't many, if any, "skilled" thieves breaking into personal shops, the creep that you are going to see is a druggie, looking for small easy to carry tools they can fence, hock, or sell on a phone app. So probably no rocket scientists, think walking dead zombies. For sure don't let them bite you.

Unless you have an overhead door, and you actually use the space to park in, you can enter through a Man door, and bolt the garage door. That is the usual mode of access, by jacking the lock arm, and just pushing the door up. With the bolt thrown that stops that. Put 100 bux into a Ring or similar camera phone, for the Man door, and make a big deal if some A hat does set off your phone. Remind them to smile for their pic, and zoom it's in the cloud.

If you have windows, they do make screens that lock out access, bars if you live in a high crime area. Or make something yourself.
 
#13 ·
The wife left the house and didn't notice that the garage door failed to close. (Something was obstructing the light beam sensor)
I lost a few hundred bucks in small tools, but nothing further than 10 feet from the doorway and only what the person walking by could carry at one time.
 
#14 ·
I used to worry about it. Alarm at shop would go off, I would race there gun in hand, nobody around.
Must have been something else setting off alarm. Would always beat the alarm company there. Has happened more than once. Railroad, thunder, whatever it was, I quit worrying about it. Decided just let the insurance company worry about it instead. Just take enough to make it worthwhile is how i think about it now.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
My shop has 14 ceilings and I only have nonopening 1-foot tall windows at the top my walls, the people doors have old fashion bars across the inside, I have an alarm & video surveillance inside and out that sends alarms to my cell phone plus my garage door is on a switched to an outlet that I turn off at night, so it would be difficult for anyone to break-in
 
#16 ·
My youngest son left the rollup door open all night many years ago. Fortunately, nothing was stolen. I disconnected the door from the opener and have a bolt I put in to stop manual opening. I remove the bolt when I need to open the roll up door, which is seldom. An additional reason for this is that some guy who looked like a crack head was casing the place. Not much of my stuff is in a grab-and-run location. I also put up CCTV cameras after my neighbor vandalized our cars, about 8 years ago.
 
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