Security Solutions for the Garage with Bikes
 

I hang 4 bikes on the lower half of a loft in my garage. I don't have pics, but they hang by the wheel and the other wheel rests against the wall, so the bike is vertical. I would like to lock or secure the bikes so that it wouldn't be easy to take them in the event someone got into the house.

I have several studs running perpendicular & above the bikes, as well as the garage wall the bikes are leaning against.

I thought about using a bolted down loop (against the wall or stud) + a long security cable (on guard or kryptonite) through the bikes + a lock.

Thoughts?

Once someone is in the garage, they are in an enclosed space with privacy, tools, and time to do what they wish. It's simply too late at that point.

Moving on to your question. I'd sister a stud at both ends bolt in a large eye bolt to each. Run a stout cable through the rear triangle/wheel to the other side and a hefty lock. It's simple and will make it hard enough.

yep, if you have a hacksaw, prybar or bolt cutters stashed in a tool box anywhere in the garage, it's pretty much useless to throw a "stout" cable anywhere to protect anything (unless you lock your tool chest too).

Personally, I would go a little more high tech. I just saw this online:
http://skattertech.com/2007/11/turn-...-security-cam/


cheap and easy security system. I'm sure there's a way for the system to email or send an sms message to your mobile phone and you could call the police yourself. Wouldn't require a full fledged security system, or the monthly monitoring fees. If you have a smart phone, you would be able to monitor it from your phone.

I use a Doberman brand security system for my bikes. It is kind of expensive and it needs a lot of attention, but I have not found any other device that works as effectivly.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...eRyan/pdub.jpg
I know I look sweet, but come near Ryan's bikes and I'll eat you!

Because I know that not everyone wants to secure their belongings with a purebred protection dog, I had a few other thoughts as well.

Does your homeowners (or renters) insurance cover your bikes if they are stolen from inside your garage? If it does, you might consider the ammount of inconvenience you will have to endure to unlock/relock your bikes every time you want to ride. If bike theft is not a major concern in your area, locking up bikes that are already housed in a locked garage may be more trouble than it's worth.

If i were planning to use a cable or chain to lock my bikes, I'd lock them all up individually.

Most thieves want to grab what they can and get out of there. If you have 4 bikes on one cable, they might cut the cable and grab all 4 bikes. If each bike is locked/cabled seperately, that is a lot more time and effort to steal them all. You can buy 4 locks that are keyed alike at any hardwear store so you wouldn't need 4 different keys to get to your bikes.

I'm looking at 'alarming' the bikes in my garage using 'window alarms' from the dollar store. They use a magnet in proximity to a reed switch to trigger a shrill alarm buzzer. I hope to set up the bikes so that if they are moved the alarm triggers. I'm still looking at how to make it easy for me to turn the alarms off so i can ride my bikes without making it too easy for a thief to disable them.

Good luck.

I figured if they're inside, they've got a good shot of taking the bikes. I figure with the locks/cable, it'll buy me some time if they're trying just to get in and out.

So you go with one small dog?

I go with 2 105 pounders. Everyone else in the area who has pets worries about the coyotes getting their pets. I worry about finding a garage full of coyote parts.

Oh and don't mess with the cat. Number 2 dog is very protective of it and number 1 is very protective of number 2.

So it works like Shimano? 105 or better?

What she lacks in size (she's about 70lbs) she makes up for in intensity. :)

My favorite garage security is a string attached to the door. When the door is opened, the string pulls the trigger on a wall mounted shotgun! :eek:

That, and I have a nice big compost pile in which to place the body! ;)

Intensity is good. Teamwork is even better. Let the puppies up the hill behind the house one evening and then heard (non human) screaming. Called them back down. Alpha dog came right down, beta took a couple of calls to come. And he comes down happy and proud as a cat with a mouse. Only thing is his mouse was a very alive racoon. Got him to drop it. He jumped right back on it when it tried to move. Got him to drop again and come to me. The racoon made his escape, very much alive and fiesty. Checked out the dogs afterwards, not a scratch on either.

And these d@mn dogs talk to the cat, the same cat that dropped a live mouse on my chest as an offering while I was sleeping. After the racoon incident I worry about offerings from the dogs.

I'm with Ryan and Keith...I have a Rottie at home with my bike. Oh sure, I've got the New York Chain, too...but a barking Rottie usually means they aren't going to get near the chain or the bike. Double protection. :)
Good luck Axelfox.
Donna
Kryptonite

How about installing a motion detector and a loud horn?

I run a long (25-30 ft maybe) cable through the frames of all the bikes (and it's looped around a panel of the wall) and lock it with a padlock. It's obviously not going to stop someone who's determined, but it's better than just having them in there unlocked. I can take a picture if you'd like to see it.

Running a chain through all the bikes means if you cut the chain once you have access to all the bikes.
Separate locks would be four times more secure.

Cheap and easy theft deterrent:

Shiny new POS wal-mart bike leaning against the wall.

Seriously, think about what would be worth stealing from a thief's perspective not yours. They're going to pass up the Trek 460, Specialized Hardrock comp, Giant Rincon hanging from the rafters to nab a perfectly good bike sitting there against the wall. Jokes on them!

Most thieves don't have a 4 space Thule roof rack to carry that many bikes anyway. They'd probably be riding it away.

Maybe something like a mount for rifles, mounted sideways. you can rest the toptubes in a clamping
mechanism.

I went with two mix breed chows. I've been told by friends that they are quite frightening when in their "We must protect this house" mode. Two dogs is nice because they keep each other alert. Other than dogs I think your money is best spent making sure the security for the whole house is top notch. I don't know about your bikes, but I have far more money invested in computer and AV equipment. When we moved in I added kick plates with 3-4 inch screws on every outside door; motion activated lights around all the doors and the alley side of the house.

Dog is probably out of the question.

I might just lock up my most prized ride, and let the other be sacrificed :D.

The best deterent is a sticker on the outside of your door warning potential thieves that the garage if protected by security company ???. If you don't have a security installation, no problem. Go to Office Depot and buy some printable sticker paper. Create an official looking security logo and print it. No thief is going to question whether the company actually exists. They will immediately move on to easier targets. This is the cheapest form of theft deterent. Make sure you put it on all access points into the garage including windows.

That's illegal by the way.

That may depend on your local laws. Here, it's well defined (for MN).

If your overhead door has windows in the upper panel, be sure to remove the release rope that dangles down from the track. The easiest way to gain access to a garage is punch out the glass, yank the rope, then jerk the door up. Thief can be inside your garage with door closed behind him in 15 secs then have your tools to work on your locks. This assumes you have a power opener.

If you don't have an opener or if you don't park a car in it daily, you could lock the overhead door to the track to prevent entry. Do you have a walk door or windows to think about? As others have mentioned it would be time better spent securing your perimeter. Also think about ease with which you can secure the garage, cause if it is time-consuming for you, you won't do it.

Have a bike shed that is 50ft from the house. motion triggered security lighting and a 130 db Alarm. Even if the neighbours ignore the alarm, you cannot stay in the shed with that noise. Plus all the bikes are locked by Kryptonite cables secured to the Foundations under the shed.

My bikes live in the bedroom ;)

I have thick plywood hinged shutters inside all the garage windows. Including the windows on the garage door.
They are supported across the middle with a 2x4 attached to the cinderblock wall on either side. But easy to remove. At least this way you have to have some tools you can't break them by hand or even with a rock. And that would make enough noise for the dog to sound off. Waking me instantly. Actually just jiggleing the garage door handle will set the dog alarm off.

Inside is a huge eyebolt that I hardened to be about the same hardness as a saw blade. You could hold a battle ship with it. It is anchored in the cement floor. Both Litespeeds are chained to the eye with a Krypto NY Chain. All the other bikes are close on either side and cable locked together and to the Litespeeds and the eye bolt. with the Litespeeds in the middle of the row.

I have beware of the dog signs all over the place. Even though I have a small dog it has a deep tone bark like a much bigger dog. Unless you see him you would think he is huge. Also a mad little dog that has teeth already proven to go right through a hand with one bite, and claws that tear. And they have faster reactions than humans. You're going to bleed.

It is public knowledge that I have years of experience in hand gun timed obstacle course type competition shooting with my S&W model 29 .44 mag. ( same as dirty Harry :p) I always scored in the top half of 50 to 100 competitors. Almost a couple of wins. Want my bike? Do ya feel lucky punk? Well do ya?

Maybe I'll get some of those "protected by Smith and Wesson" stickers. Didn't think of that.

Am I nuts? ;)