Reliable, Pick-Proof Padlock
As I mentioned in my recent post on garage door openers, I have a problem with a party in my neighborhood that has been stealing and vandalizing my property for some time now and has evidently used the information available on sites like YouTube to master the knack of picking locks. Like most garages, mine has a man door in addition to the conventional overhead vehicle door, and I'd like to secure this with a good padlock that a thief would find difficult to pick. Right now I have a Medeco deadbolt on the main entry door to my house and I realize that they make a padlock version too. But I'd rather not spend that kind of money to secure the garage. Are there any other padlock manufacturers that produce reliable padlocks at reasonable prices that would be fairly difficult to pick? Once again, any help will be very much appreciated. And thanks in advance for any assistance you guys can provide here. The weak link is often not how hard the lock is to pick but how easy the hasp can be pried loose or the padlock smashed or the doors hinges broken. I don't know how much you want to spend but I feel that less expensive locks tend to be more popular... and have more Youtube videos posted crack them. Seriously though, how much are you talking for a quality padlock? One theft or act of vandalism costs you how much? If you think a $100 lock will make a difference it seems like a small price to pay. If using a keyed padlock I would get one containing at least five pins. Another option would be to enclose whatever lock you choose in a steel shield to limit access or make access awkward. Simple shields to protect against sawing or hammering are common but having a local weld shop make a custom shield for you could be an option. Something that allows you to stick one hand up inside and insert a key at an angle could work. Relatively easy for you to stick your hand in and turn the key but with only one hand and access and no visual picking becomes considerably more difficult. I have not checked your other posts but have you considered a surveillance system? You can only reinforce the door so much before they use a saw and go through the wall. Hidden surveillance to catch them in the act might hopefully give the law ammunition it needs for a strong prosecution. As Pilot (Mama told me to fly Low Slow) Ray have indicated, if you've been hit several times, I'd consider multiple security improvements, even if you're convinced the entries have been due to lock picking, (which, by definition, means manipulation thru the keyhole, not slipping the latch or bolt externally). A mid-priced combination lock like the Corbin Sesame, (also sold under the Master Lock name, as well) will solve the lock picking/bumping problem. I suspect that once your thief sees you have a different lock, he will try the next-most easily-defeated barrier to the garage; common hasps from the big box store are pried off with a small crowbar. A thru-bolted hardened-steel hasp will improve matters considerably. Remember the saying, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link certainly applies to physical security. Being a person that spends a lot of time in the bush, and with a lot of local mining and foestry companies in the area, I've seen a lot of ruggid theft deterants in my time (I don't break into places btw, just what I come across when hiking or mtn biking). One very common solution here is a padlocked slide bolt with a dog house (as we call them). Basically, the dog house (I believe they are known as padlock lock boxes), is a metal box that has an opening at the bottom to access the lock. This makes beating the lock impossible and in most cases, protects the hasp from the same type of fate. Trying to bump a pad lock in one of those will be a bit tougher. Another trick for these kids is to remove or cover any markings on the lock that would give away it's brand and or model. If using the dog house idea, a quick Plasti Dip coating over the lock would not only protect the lock, but hide some characters that may make picking the correct bump key a bit more tough. Finish this setup with a nice motion light pointing down at the lock area. It's very hard to see what you are doing in a dark spot (inside the lock box) with a light shining in your face. Motion lights are even better as with them turning off and on (normally go off for a second once the time limit is reached) the person's night vision is messed up for a bit. They also sell motion lights with built in game cameras. When we were moving across country we were shipping our belongings in a container we had to lock ourselves. I went to a locksmith and said I wanted the best padlock he had. He brought out a German disc lock and said this is what a lot of trucking companies use on their containers. Circular design makes them very difficult to hammer to pieces as the hammer will bounce off. Very difficult to take a sawzall/hacksaw to it as well. Company was called Abus I believe. I bought one and since then have seen them on hundreds of trucks since. I figured if shipping companies trust their load to these locks, they must be pretty good. Cost about $60. Google it. Great lock. The European Meroni brand has a unique padlock that is high security and stainless steel. It's called the luccotto. A web search will tell you more. Another option very similar to what GlobalLocky posted is to: 1. Use a padlock with a large enough hasp to get around your garage door track. Since it's located inside your garage the security of the lock is not a primary concern. Even a screwdriver, nut bolt or carabiner can serve much the same purpose. Simply anything to block the garage door track will work. 2. Very similar to the luccoto you can use a trailer hitch lock. They are available in most home centers and higher quality ones can be ordered online. If you are truly having trouble with someone picking your locks than a foreign, unfamiliar lock could be a curve ball to thwart your Youtube viewing thieves. But keep in mind that if they have access to that lock they are already inside your garage. Personally, I would install a hi-res security camera with night vision so the jerk gets arrested. To add to Wildbill's comment about the Disc locks: The Abus brand Discus lock (in the largest size) is a decent padlock, but be sure to avoid the Chinese-made clones that go under various other names (Buffo is one, I think) and look identical....they can be peeled apart. Even the Abus Discus is a hollow padlock, and it owes it's security mostly to it's protected-shackle design. The better padlocks are a little harder to find but use the protected-shackle design along with solid or laminated steel construction, and higher-security cylinders using technologies other than standard pin-tumbler. The cheapest and best way to secure a man door to the garage is with a couple 2x4 drop bars going across the interior of the garage. Google security drop bars if you don't know what I am talking about. As someone who specializes in forcible entry these are much harder to defeat than any lock out there and much cheaper. Just be sure to attach holding brackets to structural members many garage doors will have a frame that is steel that you can mount a lockable patio bolt to. Similar to a typical barrel bolt, but much more hefty, they are installed with 2 screws and have a long bolt that you can easily lock through the track. here is a link I found that shows (at the bottom) what I mean HardwareExpedited.com - Flushbolts Surface Bolts by Emtek very inexpensive and strong. Not sure if the Trakjam security bolt is available in the USA. But the product is specifically tailored for preventing those type of roller doors from being opened easily
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