Securing a generator in garage tips . . . .

[Expidia]

Bought this $1000 emergency generator at Home Depot. Has good reviews.

Rigid Model # RD906814P


6,800-Watt Idle Down Gasoline Powered Electric Start Portable Generator with Yamaha MZ360 $999.00











Plan to move it between my house, my daughters place and my son's place depending on who might lose power this winter!
Storing it in my son's garage. Since he tends to leave his garage open at times and it faces the street I'm looking for tips on securing it so I don't have my $1000 investment one day roll down the driveway and onto someones truck

Its now in the corner of his garage. Looking at the pic I see a vertical white line on each side which is probably a stud. I'm thinking of screwing in a lag type eye bolt on each side. Picking up a length of hardened or heavier chain (maybe with the plastic coating so it won't scratch the generator) and securing the chain around the generator with a few hardened locks through the eye bolts.

I also thought of a length of metal with holes on each end from eyebolt to eyebolt so one could not simply put a screwdriver into the eye bolt and spin them out quickly!

I mean if someone really wants it they will get it anyway and thats why he has homeowners insurance, but we don't want to make it easy for them!

Garage is sometimes open in the nice weather as my granddaughter plays around that area. Driveway slopes down to the street so they prefer to have her play in the garage area where it's flat hence the open garage door at times.

Any other tips or recommendations to secure this generator?
Or am I on the right track with my proposed method outlined above?

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[MH Hawker]

i would make a plywood box and paint it the color of the drywall, plus the securing thing, if it isnt seen its not a target

 

[gm280]

Expidia, basically I see some weld frame joints on that generator and that is what I would concentrate my attention on for securing the generator. Quality welded-link chain or good size cable should stop the typical thief from walking off with it. However, there is no such thing as making anything totally secure. If a person seriously wants it, it is gone. So do enough to make it both noisy AND not easy to cut the security cables or chains and walk off. That is about all you can do. You can install a break type alarm system so if the wire is cut, the alarm goes off both in the house and in the garage. They use those same type alarm systems in stores on the higher end electronic these days. Simple circuit the once triggered, it has to be reset to turn it off. Cheap and easy to setup. So between a security cable or chain and a cut wire type alarm setup, you should be go to go. JMHO!

 

[aspeck]

Claymore mines would work ...

 

[WIMUSKY]

i would make a plywood box and paint it the color of the drywall, plus the securing thing, if it isnt seen its not a target

That's what I would do, outta site, outta mind..... Is there really a stealing problem in the neighborhood? People walking in open garages? Heck, those bikes may be worth more than the generator....

 

[Grub54891]

Simply take a float switch from a bilge pump, wire it to an auto horn, set it to flop up if someone moves it. I wired my old boat to the boat horn that way when someone stole the gas can out of it once. The second time they set it off and never returned.

 

[sphelps]

Put an epoxy anchored eyebolt in the floor and chain it to that ...

 

[djpeters]

Plywood box. It will keep it clean also and then you can stack stuff on top.

 

[Expidia]

Thanks for those replies. Ya we tthought of floor anchoring, but figured anchoring to the studs would be easier. i like the alarm idea too.
Good neighborhood, but its usually maintenence people or neighborhood kids that spot it there and come back for it. Boxing it would be a good idea. Its a pretty small unit, so I thought of some type of plastic garden type box but its also his garage for cars so space is limited.

Once we get it anchored we can cover it with a small plastic tarp to keep it out of site. i've suggested that he anchor those bikes to the ceiling too. Sure, insurance pays for claims but then they rate or drop you so its better to try and not have a claim if all it takes is a few anchors, chains and locks with a garage door thats stays open and you get tied up in the house and forget that you left it open. i once gave him an electrontric garage door alert device that I had from another house, but they made a chirping sound that flipped his dogs out whenever the garage door opened or closed so that didn't work out.

 

[bruceb58]

If I was anchoring everything in my garage that was worth over $1000, I would have a lot of anchoring to do!

 

[MTboatguy]

If I was anchoring everything in my garage that was worth over $1000, I would have a lot of anchoring to do!

I agree Bruce, now a days, I just park the plow truck in front of the door and they ain't getting in!

 

[thumpar]

You could take 2 small chains and lag them into the studs on each side then use a lock to connect them. Most thieves wouldn't deal with it.

 

[angus63]

Just take the wheels off. Keeps the convenient thief empty handed. A career thief will get it if they want it... they laugh at locks and chains.

 

[gm280]

There really is no way to make something theft proof if somebody seriously want it. However, you try to slow them down and that eliminates the easy pickup and run type items. I'd also install some motion sensor lighting. We have them and if somebody walks up or drives up to our usually closed garage, the flood lights turn on. That would help scare off the average thief.

 

[Expidia]

Update: we used the lag bolt eye method on each side of the unit into the studs. The eye is big enough for the 1300 lb test plastic coated chain to pass through and then covered the unit with a black generator cover to keep from view.
Thx for the posts.