CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Bike shed assaulted

(14 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Greenroofer
  • Latest reply from Uberuce

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  1. Greenroofer
    Member

    We live in leafy (other adjectives are available) Morningside. We are lucky enough to have a front garden and room for a bike shed in said garden. It's right by the front door.

    At some point last night our bike shed was assaulted. Somebody unscrewed the hinges on one side of the double doors to get into the shed. Inside the shed is approaching £2k's worth of unlocked bikes. They didn't touch them. The only thing that appears to have been taken is the eight screws that fastened the hinges to the shed. Exactly the same happened to our neighbour two doors up.

    So, it seems we were lucky. I'm off to buy some one-way screws...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    It may have been more portable items they were after, like power tools.

    But a good wake up call!

    Perhaps also a loop of strong locking cable/chain and a ground anchor would be good too?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. Dave
    Member

    Be careful, because it's quite possible that they'll come back again with a van, now they know there's stuff for the taking.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. alibali
    Member

    Don't like the sound of that, I've got a bike shed at the front too and it sounds like someone might crusing round looking for targets.

    I'd take Kaputnik's advice and get an anchor of some kind and some decent cables. I'd be expecting a return visit. You could have some revenge with one of these wildlife cameras if they do come back...

    In fact, I don't lock the door of my shed and so far no-one has even opened it to find out what's inside. No lock=No value, it seems. Both bikes are cabled to a shackle bolted to the slabs the shed sits on.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. DaveC
    Member

    I'd be tempted to buy some heavy duty chain and chain all the bikes together. They can steel on bike locked to itself but 4 or more bikes chained together would take a great effort to remove. Have you considered an alarm? You can also consider bigger hinges which take coach bolts, or put the hinges on the inside.

    One trick theives have used in the past is to just knock out the steel bars which the hinges 'hinges' off. Look online for some security hinges. Is you're insurance upto date?

    http://www.torc-anchors.com/beef-up-kit.php

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    I fitted a set of metal 'studs' onto the hinge-side of our bike store, since the door opens out. They poke into armoured recesses when it closes. Simple tools only.

    This means that it's no use someone doing anything to the hinges, because the door is still secure at both edges with the hinges off. And no extra keys required :)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. Darkerside
    Member

    Out of interest, what bike sheds are people using? I've got a 'private' front garden with our ground floor flat which could be neatly put to use. It's very exposed however, so I'd want something pretty solid...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. Roibeard
    Member

    I'm using a Trimetals one.

    Disadvantages include expense, hassle or cost of installation, and limited space (i.e. won't fit an unusual bike like the Pino)

    Advantages include insurance approved, (relative) security, ease of use, low maintenance, good quality (presuming good installation - a dodgy base will ruin any shed or store).

    I'm happy with it for what it is, but I wouldn't buy it now - having obtained a Pino and a hankering for recumbents, load bikes, and other N+1!

    Robert

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. DaveC
    Member

    I have a garage, sorry not a lot of help.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. custard
    Member

    I would be replacing all the screws with studs for starters.
    As said,get an anchor point
    EBC have their bike chain lock down to £20 just now
    could be good for chaining the bikes together
    then chain to the anchor point.
    If possible,I would move the bikes indoors until the storage is secured

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. crowriver
    Member

    Sounds like they were 'casing the joint', ie. they'll be back to get the bikes later. Or maybe they were disturbed.

    No-one has bothered to try and get into our shed yet. Nothing much valuable in it, but inside it did fix floor anchors and motorbike chains either side. Can then lock kids' bikes, tagalong etc. to these.

    The adults' bikes are chained to a wall anchor at the foot of our stair, or in the (reasonably secure) lock-up garage.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. Uberuce
    Member

    Make sure you're doing more than the folk two doors up. That's the horrible realpolitik of security - you only need to be the second least easy mark.

    If you know them well enough, the more civilised option is to suggest you and them go halfers on one of those Fort Knoxy looking things Roibeard linked.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. Greenroofer
    Member

    I was quite tempted with the trimetals shed when we first decided what to get, but got a wooden one in the end so that we could grow a green roof on it. Bizarrely, the shed has internal steel reinforcement to support the weight of the roof, but this steel contributes nothing to its security.

    I reported the crime this morning. Today we've had calls from three different police officers and a card through the door from a third. I think we will get more calls from the 'investigating officer' in the next few days too. Can't fault the service from LBP's finest, particularly given that the only actual crime seems to be the theft of 8 screws.

    I've been to Screwfix and got a ground anchor, an armoured cable and some one-way screws, and have installed them. I am now doing more than the chap two doors up...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. Uberuce
    Member

    *nameclick*

    Posted 13 years ago #

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