Wichita police tell us they have seen a spike recently on thefts from storage sheds and garages.

So, here's a reminder of how to protect your valuables, vehicles, lawn equipment and mowers from thieves

A lot of the same rules apply to both garages and sheds.

• Make sure to always lock the shed.


• Make sure to use a steel lock. It may be plastic coated to protect from the weather, but it should be a strong lock, not a cheap one that can be pryed open.


• Make sure the locking hasp the lock goes through is made of good quality. Sometimes the crook will break the hasp instead of the lock.


• Make sure the hinges are secure. The hinge screws should be on the inside, not on the outside where the burglar can get at them.


• Have proper lighting on your shed. A motion detector that turns on a light on the shed or on your home facing the shed is always a good idea.


• Consider installing a battery-operated alarm on the shed doors.