A truck bed toolbox allows you to lock up landscape equipment while keeping your truck stocked.
The equipment and tools for maintaining landscapes constitute a considerable investment, whether you own a professional landscaping business or manicure your own home landscape. High-dollar landscape equipment, including everything from lawn mowers to pressure washers and plate compactors, are a major temptation for thieves. Instead of falling victim to landscape equipment theft, take preventative measures to properly lock up your valued tools. If a criminal sees that you're serious about protecting your belongings, he may reconsider attempting to steal your stuff in the first place.
Instructions
1. Invest in high-quality chains and padlocks, looking for such features as freeze-proof and hardened-steel designs. More expensive locks are generally more difficult to cut, making it more difficult for thieves to steal what's inside.
2. Store expensive landscape equipment items, such as pressure washers, tillers and sod cutters in a house or commercial building that is equipped with an alarm system. If a thief enters your home, the security company is immediately notified and will solicit a law enforcement response.
3. Use overflow storage options, such as small sheds, for locking away less expensive equipment, such as push mowers and chain saws, and keep a padlock on the door. The padlock may deter some criminals, but losing these items is not as great a financial loss as losing bigger-ticket items. Consider a shed that's harder to break into than just cutting through tin.
4. Tie up equipment that must be stored outside with chains or cable and a padlock. Run the chain through lawn mower steering wheels, compactor handles, wheelbarrow legs and ladder rungs, and connect the ends of the chain with a heavy-duty padlock.
5. Organize small tools and parts in a chest toolbox with locking drawers and keep the toolbox locked inside a house, garage or shed. Items might include anything from blade files to hand tools.
6. Keep small items organized in a cabinet that you can completely close and that has a place near the handles for securing a padlock. These cabinets generally feature at least three shelves; Ideally you'll keep it inside a locked basement or shed.
7. Outfit your truck with a toolbox that fits in the truck bed and keep tools secured in the box. Most new truck boxes are equipped with locking handles, but use a padlock if yours doesn't. These toolboxes save you from having to move equipment to and from the truck while providing security against theft. Remove larger equipment from the truck and store it in a secure place.
Tips Warnings
Keep a record of all the equipment you own, including model numbers and serial numbers when applicable. This makes it easier for police to track down your equipment in the event of theft.
