I'm pretty sure locks only keep honest people out.
Building a kennel next to the obs for adolf the rotty might deter most thieves
How about an official-looking sign on the gate saying "Tropical Diseases Sample Centre - Hazardous waste exposure - enter at own risk." With a logo showing someone in a full enviro suit. Or perhaps a "Police Line - Do Not Cross" sign. Guaranteed to freeze the missus and guarantee the teenage son's mates go elsewhere.
Peter
You could always adapt this idea. Not many would be game to approach too close! See http://tesladownunder.com/ for more details (and other attonishing feats).
Here's a few idea's...
Put up a sign "You have been photographed, alarm has been activated, owner notifed"
Put up a tube steel doorway, (75mm x 4mm), make up a tube steel door,(30mm x 4mm), like a gate, and cover each side with 7 ply secured with coach bolts, (the more the better). Weld 4 hinges to the door/doorway.
Use heavy slidebolts with padlock covers top and bottom of the door.
A sensorlight with 2 par38 lamps aim at the door from the inside which can only be turned off by a hidden switch.
A dummy dressed up like Freddy K inside.
Cheers!
You could always adapt this idea. Not many would be game to approach too close! See http://tesladownunder.com/ for more details (and other attonishing feats).
I would probably consider that the more visible security features that you have on the outside, the more you're sending the message that there's lots of expensive stuff to grab on the inside. Perhaps low key visibility would be the way to go, whilst maintaining good security (decent lock, perhaps a small IR surveillance camera just above the door to get footage of anyone approaching the door, a light with a movement sensor that you can turn on and off from the inside, wireless alarm with door reed switch, PIR, screamer on the inside with GSM dialler).
I originally spoke to my insurance company about whether they'd insure everything inside a garden shed, regardless of what it was / how expensive it was (including telescopes) and they said it was no problem. It actually took me by surprise. Armed with that knowledge, I went about building my beautiful observatory and surrounds, and securing it as best I could. I have photos of everything that lives inside it just in case, and only leave the items in there that have to be in there (ie. no precious naglers, CCD cameras etc). It's fully alarmed, locked and monitored - so there's nothing much more I can do. I must admit to feeling uneasy for the first few weeks after it was built and my telescopes were moved inside.
Dean
Last edited by floyd_2; 08-02-2011 at 05:56 PM.
Reason: Typos - as usual.
Generally they are Ron, but when you open the hive for inspection they tend to get upset.
I suppose that's fair, I'd be upset if someone took my roof off.
Our local bee keeper does wear any of that gear, when he gives classes it's looks funny with everyone else dressed up and him touching bees moving them out the way, doing whatever he wants.
Disguise is the best defence I think. Works for sheds, not for domes.
Quality door locks, and strong door. A door that happens to be quite sticky/jammed helps too (confuses legitimate people who try to open the obs, so why not crooks ).
Off-site data backup is a must, easily done to the house and vice-versa, with the network cable hidden of course.
In addition to data, if you house is nearby (say < 100m) you can have a 2-4 camera security set recording the area and having the data stored "offsite" in the house, with UPS backup. Fairly reasonable price these days. Most of those recorders will easily fit in a tucked away place in the house, hidden from being stolen themselves, and only needing a network cable to be able to maintain & monitor them from a PC.
Good locks on the roof is an obvious one I guess, so the roof can't be opened easier than the door.
Solid core door, two dead locks with different keys and good insurance is all that is needed. Anything else becomes a man trap and that is gonna land you in hot water.
In reality it is hard to sell astro gear on the used market. Places like Cash converters alert police straight away when they see equipment that looks expensive. Even thieves are not stupid about fencing gear off. If you have the basics it will deter most. I would not lose any sleep over whether someone is going to steal your gear or not. Get the insurance and prevent the problem in the first place.
Good insurance is really the only viable answer. While there are lots of ideas for "deterrents", most of them require the threat of violence which is generally illegal, plus only serves to up the "challenge" for them.
The beauty of insurance is, technology gets cheaper, so if you insure for agreed value or replacement value, then when your stuff gets stolen or vandalised, you get to claim for all brand-new stuff.
