Household Cycle Security

[I like Skol]

What else should I be considering? Good quality locks for each bike through bolted mounts into concrete floors/walls? Double locked doors? CCTV? Good alarm system, Booby traps?

I don't know which part of Manchester you are from Middleagecyclist but you really make it sound like a crime hotspot. I wonder if you aren't coming at this from totally the wrong direction. IMO nothing screams 'you've hit the jackpot if you get into here' like excessive highly visibility security measures. I have always worked on the theory that the best security is totally discreet and passive. On this basis, windows are to be avoided, a good single lock in a good door and be careful about who sees you putting your stuff away. Multiple locks/bolts/catches in an armoured door are an invitation in flashing neon. I might be lucky because I live on a very quiet cul-de-sac so pretty much gauranteed the only people that see me putting my bikes away are my neighbours but if I do get home and there is a stranger in the street (tradesmen, bin wagon, pizza leafleter etc) then I wheel my bike into the house then move it back into the garage later when all is quiet.
As for locking things up when inside my property, my personal view is that this is overkill and too much of a compromise to my life. I have house insurance that includes my bikes and always make sure I lock doors and windows.

My advice is don't be an easy target but let's not get too paranoid, that way lies sleepless nights and insanity!!!

 

[BSRU]

a good single lock in a good door

Some good quality steel doors does not look like a steel door, they look like a wooden door from the outside.

 

[Globalti]

On average we usually have six bikes in our garage. We live in a medium crime area and the neighbours opposite work from home so they are looking out at the front of our house when we are out during the day. Our garage door is also very close to the road and visible to passers-by and neighbours at the side. The house and garage are alarmed, the garage door is a sturdy wooden up and over one (neighbour's roller shutter door was forced open and garden equipment stolen) with bolts in steel reinforced frame top and both bottom corners. To get that open would take a lot of effort and make a lot of noise and set the alarm off.

The bikes are insured on the house policy (a very reasonable £45 a year extra) and we have insurance deadlocks front and back. The back door is a metal/wood/metal composite, which looks like planked wood from the outside.

Most importantly I take care not to let passers-by see the bikes, I always close the garage door when I'm out the front and if I'm messing around on the bike in the street I take care not to be seen going into or out of the drive if there are any young lads walking past. A neighbour kept bikes and bits & pieces in a lockup up a back ginnel and he was burgled twice. Now he lives alone and all the bikes have their own bedroom!

 

[middleagecyclist]

I don't know which part of Manchester you are from Middleagecyclist but you really make it sound like a crime hotspot. I wonder if you aren't coming at this from totally the wrong direction. IMO nothing screams 'you've hit the jackpot if you get into here' like excessive highly visibility security measures. I have always worked on the theory that the best security is totally discreet and passive.

I'm in quite a nice part of north Manchester but crime is not unknown. I don't plan to make any security measure high viz but I do have choices I can make when viewing properties and I want to make the most of what is available. I would love a secure room in the house or a garage adjoining the house rather than a shed/outbuilding. Steel doors that don't look like steel, high quality door locks/hinges, no windows, bolts into concrete (I've already got the locks to go through them). Good general security around the house - noisy gravel, good lighting, trellis on top of fencing, etc. I do like to keep things low key and don't intend to advertise what's inside. I would love a house on a quiet street/cul de sac with just a few neighbours who know each other.

 

[herbie256]

hi i got my bike stolen at 5 this morning and id like it back ive got a long drive and it was hid behind bins not visible from the road i live in burnham on sea in somerset and my bike is a giant model of some sorts and is red and black with some white also it has a tinsy bit of a pinky sharp metal on the crossbar part where the bottle holder snapped off could anyone in this area keep an eye out thanks

 

[middleagecyclist]

hi i got my bike stolen at 5 this morning and id like it back ive got a long drive and it was hid behind bins not visible from the road i live in burnham on sea in somerset and my bike is a giant model of some sorts and is red and black with some white also it has a tinsy bit of a pinky sharp metal on the crossbar part where the bottle holder snapped off could anyone in this area keep an eye out thanks

Sorry your bike was nicked but that's no excuse to hijack my thread newbie! Maybe try the Stolen Bikes section?

 

[Sandra6]

After my husband's bianchi was stolen -padlock and all! - from the yard right under the kid's noses we've taken to keeping our "good" bikes indoors. The childrens and my metis are chained together in the yard under a carport.

 

[derrick]

Steven Seagal surely?

You could have them holding hands,

 

[simon.r]

A neighbour kept bikes and bits & pieces in a lockup up a back ginnel and he was burgled twice. Now he lives alone and all the bikes have their own bedroom!

After my husband's bianchi was stolen -padlock and all! - from the yard right under the kid's noses we've taken to keeping our "good" bikes indoors. The childrens and my metis are chained together in the yard under a carport.

I keep my best bike (or two) in the house, but I have only myself to please and a big enough hallway to keep them in without them being in my way. In the OP's position I'd be seriously considering a house with a downstairs room that could be dedicated to all things bike - an indoor shed if you like Just because an estate agent calls it a dining room doesn't mean it can't be a shed!

 

[derrick]

In the house,

 

[NotthatJasonKenny]

I have two bikes and a very understanding wife who has her own bedroom due to my snoring so mine sleep stood next to me in my bedroom!

My room is on the third floor so I get exersise carrying them up too! My excuse for needing a lighter bike!

 

[hoopdriver]

I like discrete and our concrete shed looks like nothing special set well back from the road and obscured by a tall flowering bush. Inside it, though, I have plenty of security, my bicycles locked with a Pragmasis 16mm chain - guaranteed un-croppable even with 42" bolt cutters - and fixed to a ground anchor. They are also insured.

 

[RaRa]

Up until last week we had one bike in the shed and 5 in the house. Every time I wanted to go into the dinning room it was like a bike obstacle course, and although he's very tolerant and owns 2 of bikes it was all getting a bit too much for the hubby. In the end it was either sell some bikes or sort it out. It wasn't a hard choice

So we fitted a shed alarm and installed a dozen locks and bolts (and crossed our fingers) and have now got 4 bikes in the shed and the best 2 in the house. Marital harmony has been restored

 

[middleagecyclist]

Just had our offer accepted on a house. Ticks most boxes and those it doesn't can be remedied. The cycle storage will be in detached brick built garage. It needs some windows bricking up and a better door fitting but i'm happy with it. The house is at the end of a very quiet cul de sac as well.

Any suggestions for fixings into a concrete floor I can run my locks through? I can pour new concrete rather than drill if needed.

 

[middleagecyclist]

In the house,

Is this a living room or a toy cupboard?