Locking a workstation
 

I'm buying one of these... http://tinyurl.com/djsew

Any suggestions on ways to lock it? I don't want a hasp and padlock coz they
look horrible.

Si - off for a furkle through Screwfix and Toolstation

"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote in message
...
I'm buying one of these... http://tinyurl.com/djsew

Any suggestions on ways to lock it? I don't want a hasp and padlock coz
they look horrible.

Si - off for a furkle through Screwfix and Toolstation

What are you trying to protect, and from what?

Occasional fiddling with the PC from kids?

Is so, you could just set a BIOS password on the PC, this can be defeated,
but requires the PC to be opened up, so not straightforward!

Sparks...

Any suggestions on ways to lock it? I don't want a hasp and padlock coz
they look horrible.

If you want to prevent someone else using the PC (but not necessarily
accessing the cupboard) there are, I believe, USB devices that will
prevent the system from operating without it (i.e. encrypt the bloody
lot)

Sparks wrote:
"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote in message
...
I'm buying one of these... http://tinyurl.com/djsew

Any suggestions on ways to lock it? I don't want a hasp and padlock
coz they look horrible.

Si - off for a furkle through Screwfix and Toolstation

What are you trying to protect, and from what?


Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all, obviously, but if
I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the ****s to steal my pc, or
at least more difficult than just ripping it away from its cables. I thought
about bolting the case to the desk but that would just be a PITA for me when
I buy a new toy for it.

Si

Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all, obviously, but if
I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the ****s to steal my pc, or
at least more difficult than just ripping it away from its cables. I thought
about bolting the case to the desk but that would just be a PITA for me when
I buy a new toy for it.

OK, this is probably a crap suggestion, but remove the right hand panel
(hopefully its one that simply slides to remove, and doesn`t require
moving at an angle etc), drill and fix it to the side panel of the unit
at the correct height.

You might want to use the left hand panel, having had a second look at
the unit :-}

To secure it, simply slide the base unit into place onto the now-
attached side panel, and lock in place with (preferably) a thumb screw -
should only need one at the top, which should still be fairly readily
accessible.

Colin Wilson wrote:

OK, this is probably a crap suggestion,

Snip panel-screwing shenanigans

Not a bad idea, Colin. I was thinking more along the lines of locking the
doors shut but I can't find owt suitable so perhaps I'll just put a
padlocked bar across the front of the pc...?

Si

In article ,
"Mungo \"two sheds\" Toadfoot" writes:

Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all, obviously, but if
I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the ****s to steal my pc, or

Forget it. If the unit is locked, it will be turned into pile of
firewood in 3 seconds. Put your effort into stopping the burglar
ever gaining entry to the house in the first place.

What you might consider is keeping off-site archives, and possibly
a hidden fileserver so that if there is a burglary, you just need
to replace the PC, and don't lose all your data.

--
Andrew Gabriel

Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
"Mungo \"two sheds\" Toadfoot" writes:

Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all,
obviously, but if I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the
****s to steal my pc, or

Forget it. If the unit is locked, it will be turned into pile of
firewood in 3 seconds. Put your effort into stopping the burglar
ever gaining entry to the house in the first place.

What you might consider is keeping off-site archives, and possibly
a hidden fileserver so that if there is a burglary, you just need
to replace the PC, and don't lose all your data.

A fair point. It's about time I backed it up anyway.

Si

Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot wrote:

Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all, obviously, but if
I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the ****s to steal my pc, or
at least more difficult than just ripping it away from its cables. I thought
about bolting the case to the desk but that would just be a PITA for me when

If it's locked it will just encourage a burglar to bust it open on the
principle that there must be some valuable in it.
Unless you have a laptop or one of the very small form factor PCs I
wouldn't bother. A normal PC is too big and bulky to be attractive to
any burglar. They depreciate so fast it's unlikely to be worth anything
to a thief, especially assuming the usual drugged wretches who want only
cash or something readily convertable to cash. Even laptops are cheap
these days, a colleague just brought one from Dell for under £400,
perfectly good for a typewriter to use in the BL. Giving them away with
cornflakes next I shouldn't wonder.


--
David Clark

$message_body_include ="PLES RING IF AN RNSR IS REQIRD"

Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot wrote:
Colin Wilson wrote:

OK, this is probably a crap suggestion,

Snip panel-screwing shenanigans

Not a bad idea, Colin. I was thinking more along the lines of locking
the doors shut but I can't find owt suitable so perhaps I'll just put
a padlocked bar across the front of the pc...?

Si

In all due respect, a locked cupboard is a gleam in a burglars eye, they
won't stop at nothing till the thing is opened to see whats inside.

Put a boxing glove on a heavy spring and compress it when your shutting up
for the night or going out.
Only problem here is when you've had a few ales and you forget about it.
:-)

Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot wrote:
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
"Mungo \"two sheds\" Toadfoot" writes:

Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all,
obviously, but if I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the
****s to steal my pc, or

Forget it. If the unit is locked, it will be turned into pile of
firewood in 3 seconds. Put your effort into stopping the burglar
ever gaining entry to the house in the first place.

What you might consider is keeping off-site archives, and possibly
a hidden fileserver so that if there is a burglary, you just need
to replace the PC, and don't lose all your data.

A fair point. It's about time I backed it up anyway.


And then a simple motion sensing bit of webcam software sending pics offsite
immediately leads to...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ne/4542689.stm

Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot wrote:

Sparks wrote:
"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote in message
...
I'm buying one of these... http://tinyurl.com/djsew

Any suggestions on ways to lock it? I don't want a hasp and
padlock coz they look horrible.

Si - off for a furkle through Screwfix and Toolstation

What are you trying to protect, and from what?


Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all, obviously,
but if I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the ****s to
steal my pc, or at least more difficult than just ripping it away
from its cables. I thought about bolting the case to the desk but
that would just be a PITA for me when I buy a new toy for it.

Si

2nd hand computers ain't worth that much. I would suggest using the
money to get a BS Standard front, back door locks & window locks.


--
zaax

Forget it. If the unit is locked, it will be turned into pile of
firewood in 3 seconds. Put your effort into stopping the burglar
ever gaining entry to the house in the first place.

Speaking of which, some darling kiddies (aka tw*ts) destroyed one of my
fence panels at the back of the house last night - not sure what they
hit it with, but at least a couple of the fairly heavy (1/4"?) vertical
slats were reduced to splinters.

I have trellis on the top, with loops of barbed wire sandwiched between
the trellis and the panel itself, anti-vandal paint, and the panels are
"wired" down to the concrete footer panels to stop them being lifted.

They decided to come straight through instead :-(

PC Paul wrote:

And then a simple motion sensing bit of webcam software sending pics
offsite immediately leads to...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ne/4542689.stm

Excellent - I like that! *Makes mental note to investigate further*

Si

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 19:07:35 +0100, Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot wrote:

Any suggestions on ways to lock it?

In a word: DON'T!

The only things you should lock away are items of high sentimental
value and firearms.

If you lock it, the buggers will just force it open, cut themselves
and bleed all over your sofa.

If they are already in your house, let them take what they want and
**** off, then claim on insurance.


--
Nigel M

Mungo \"two sheds\" Toadfoot wrote:

Any suggestions on ways to lock it? I don't want a hasp and padlock coz they
look horrible.

A couple of door-bolts on one side and a mortise lock on the other (a
little one)like on office furniture. There is little point in anything
more robust as the cabinet is made of chipboard or mdf and will succumb
to a screwdriver. A locksmith can supply two matching locks i.e. same
key for both. A dog's check-chain and a couple of P-clips screwed into
the cabinet and hardware will possibly frustrate the burgular into going
elsewhere. Of course, it is only the amateurs that steal stuff like
this. Also indelibly postcode it all. I think the order is like NN3 4DR
12, house number last.

Allow me to provide a parable. Some years ago at an educational
establishment ahem not far from me, a gentleman turned up in the
obligatory white Transit and a white coat with a bag of tools early one
morning to fix a fax machine. After about fifteen minutes, with much
sucking of air through his teeth, he said that it was a workshop job and
took it off to his van. Then he said that there was a callout on the
photocopier, could he get into the other office? The caretaking staff,
being obliging chaps, acceded. Guess what? Another workshop job. This
was a large photocopier and needed not only the "engineer" but three
caretaking staff, huffing and puffing, to load it into the van. It was
when the office staff arrived that the realisation that all was not
right sunk in. They had not made any callout.

Here comes the punchline: A week or so later, the police stopped a Ford
Cortina (clue as to how long ago this was) driving erratically. In the
boot they found a fax machine with a postcode on it. This corresponded
to this educational establishment and the officers invited the gentleman
to their interview room for a cup of tea and a chat. On obtaining a
search warrant, they went around to his house and in his lounge they
found one large photocopier. I am not sure whatever else they found, nor
what punishment was meted out, but this shows the virtue of postcoding
your valuables.


John Schmitt

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:25:19 GMT, PC Paul wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ne/4542689.stm

"... can send you a warning e-mail too, although you will need to know
the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) of your e-mail server"

Perhaps not written by a technical writer.

--
Nigel M

Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
"Mungo \"two sheds\" Toadfoot" writes:

Should have said really: I'd rather not be burgled at all, obviously, but if
I was I'd like to make it really difficult for the ****s to steal my pc, or


Forget it. If the unit is locked, it will be turned into pile of
firewood in 3 seconds. Put your effort into stopping the burglar
ever gaining entry to the house in the first place.

What you might consider is keeping off-site archives, and possibly
a hidden fileserver so that if there is a burglary, you just need
to replace the PC, and don't lose all your data.


You would be better off with a chain kit to join together the various
items inside the cupboard and make it hard(er) to pick up and carry.
You could optionally run the chain through the holes in the backs of the
shelves (which I assume exist so you can run cables). Then they'd have
to break up the cupboard and carry PC, monitor, printer & scanner in 1 go.

--
Spamtrap in use
To email replace 127.0.0.1 with blueyonder dot co dot uk

John Schmitt wrote:
snip
I am not sure whatever else they found, nor
what punishment was meted out, but this shows the virtue of postcoding
your valuables.

Many places use a paint which also etches into the plastic, but the kits
are expensive. There are various "invisible" markers which normally
come with stickers for the deterence factor, but visible marking may be
more effective - unless you think you'll want to sell the kit later of
course!

--
Spamtrap in use
To email replace 127.0.0.1 with blueyonder dot co dot uk

"Nigel Molesworth" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 19:07:35 +0100, Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot wrote:

Any suggestions on ways to lock it?

In a word: DON'T!

The only things you should lock away are items of high sentimental
value and firearms.

If you lock it, the buggers will just force it open, cut themselves
and bleed all over your sofa.

If they are already in your house, let them take what they want and
**** off, then claim on insurance.

Definately better to keep them out of the house. The buggers ****ed all over
the furniture before ****ing off when they visited my Grandads house some
years ago.

Adam

Nigel Molesworth wrote:
On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:25:19 GMT, PC Paul wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ne/4542689.stm

"... can send you a warning e-mail too, although you will need to know
the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) of your e-mail server"

Perhaps not written by a technical writer.

Are they ever?

Chris Hodges wrote:

Many places use a paint which also etches into the plastic, but the kits
are expensive. There are various "invisible" markers which normally
come with stickers for the deterence factor, but visible marking may be
more effective - unless you think you'll want to sell the kit later of
course!

The markers are usually UV fluorescent and yes, the police do go over
any suspected stolen items with a UV lamp. If it is visibly marked, and
the police turn up with something you have sold on, one hopes that you
(not personally, generally)have sufficient honesty to direct them to the
buyers. Normal procedure would appear to be to strike through the old
postcode, leaving it legible, but clearly invalidated and append the new
one. This applies to moving address too. This allows an amount of
backtracking if needed.

John Schmitt

On Mon, 22 Aug 2005 19:49:50 GMT, ARWadsworth wrote:

Definately better to keep them out of the house. The buggers ****ed all over
the furniture before ****ing off

I believe it is quite common for the "stress" of robbing someone to
cause involuntary bowel movements, usually on your carpet.

--
Nigel M

John Schmitt wrote:
The markers are usually UV fluorescent and yes, the police do go over
any suspected stolen items with a UV lamp. If it is visibly marked, and
the police turn up with something you have sold on, one hopes that you
(not personally, generally)have sufficient honesty to direct them to the
buyers. Normal procedure would appear to be to strike through the old
postcode, leaving it legible, but clearly invalidated and append the new
one. This applies to moving address too. This allows an amount of
backtracking if needed.

I've got a UV pen, but some of my PC kit is marked with "alpha dot" IIRC
which is tiny particles in a sort of varnish. This is from when I lived
with my parents, who bought the kit.

I know what you mean about honesty on the visible markings, but I'm sure
it will reduce the legit resale value just as much as the stolen
property value.

Chris


--
Spamtrap in use
To email replace 127.0.0.1 with blueyonder dot co dot uk

In article , ben
wrote:

In all due respect, a locked cupboard is a gleam in a burglars eye, they
won't stop at nothing till the thing is opened to see whats inside.

ITYM "Will stop at nothing" ?



--
AJL Electronics (G6FGO) Ltd : Satellite and TV aerial systems
http://www.classicmicrocars.co.uk : http://www.ajlelectronics.co.uk