Our Sculpture Security Recommendations: Securing Outdoor Statues

Published: 31st July 2023 | Author: Tanya Russell

When considering sculpture security, it is important to recognise that it is nearly impossible to guarantee prevention of theft. If the thief is determined, takes risks, plans ahead, brings power tools or even heavy machinery and remains undisturbed during the theft, they may succeed despite prevention measures.

That understood, the vast majority of theft is preventable, and so it is important to consider:

1. Where you place your sculpture
2. What security you put in place
3. Whether you can make it difficult for a sculpture to be stolen intact
4. And sculpture recovery

Security Measures for Sculptures & Statues

Our outdoor sculptures are provided with:

• Welded security rings (for Foundry Bronzes),
• or inset nuts allowing the use of either screw-in security rings, or threaded rod for gluing (for Bronze Resins. Please note a minimum of two screw-in security rings must be used with rigid bar or taught chain running between to prevent unscrewing).
• or subframes and base plates, which may be buried, bolted or concreted in.

Two Common Fixing Methods

1. Anchoring your sculpture into a concrete pad, (directly, with no space between the base of the sculpture and the concrete for a power tool to be inserted).
   This can be done using threaded rods and glue, or by bolting, or by burying in concrete, and it is the most reliable fixing method.
2. Or you may be able to use a ground anchor with a chain. For example, by submerging a concrete block into soft ground and attaching it to the sculpture using a thick security grade chain. If a block is inappropriate, a steel anchor, or nearby building may be appropriate. Remember that two chains to two different anchor points are better than one.

Neither fixing method is a guaranteed preventive. Undisturbed and given time, a chain can be cut, and if a thief is willing to damage the sculpture, they may cut through the sculpture with power tools.

Additional Security Measures to Consider

Motion sensing lighting

This can be very off-putting for night-thieves, particularly when a theft is made difficult enough to require them to remain onsite for some time.

CCTV systems

Particularly systems that appear new, or even dummy cameras and signs. These can be purchased for as little as £1,000, and are strongly recommended in general as a deterrent if you keep farm vehicles, tools, artwork or other expensive movables on site.

Dogs

One dog or more with freedom of your garden remains one of the most effective, and off-putting deterrents. However, it is important that the animal’s welfare be an absolute priority before its utility. Indeed, having no concern for that would make you a despicable person, unlikely to be purchasing our sculpture!

Warning signs

‘Beware the dog’ and ‘CCTV’ signs can still be a deterrent when fake, but do not expect them to deter an observant thief.

Obtain Insurance

Ensure notable high worth items are detailed to your insurer. They may request details such as value and security arrangements.

Whether Your Sculpture Can be Stolen Intact

Bronze statuary (in either material) is usually targeted either with the intent to sell, or the intent to melt it for scrap value. For this reason, if your site makes you more concerned about security than longevity, it may be better to buy in Bronze Resin, because these are:

1. harder to steal intact,
2. and the material has zero scrap value

It can be beneficial for you if your sculpture is damaged during a failed theft. Damage may deter a thief with the intent to sell, and if you bought the Bronze Resin material, breaking the material will reveal the sculpture is not made of metal, and is not worth stealing.

Both Foundry Bronze metal and Bronze Resin damage is repairable – using the same methods used in their manufacture, (welding Foundry Bronze metal and patching Bronze Resin are used to join the pieces from the mould). So do not despair if a failed theft leaves you with a damaged sculpture. You have gained insight into security vulnerabilities – and have but to get in touch with us, and we will arrange to have the repairs undertaken by us, or in your country, at cost.

Methods for Recovering Stolen Sculptures

CCTV

CCTV footage is always of assistance to the police, newer cameras benefit from high definition, night vision and audio. If you become the victim of a theft, recover the CCTV record as soon as you discover the theft, because your footage will be overwritten with the passage of time. Save one copy of the footage to your computer, and save one copy to each of two memory sticks, (the police will want one physical copy). If you request a staff member to save the footage, check the saved footage on the stick yourself immediately, to avoid a possible mistake by that staff member costing you your recording.

Microdots

Microdots are a method of identifying sculpture and other stolen goods. They come in liquid form and will spread a number of microscopic dots printed with a unique identifying number. They are helpful, and a single tube may be applied to multiple high value assets. However, police authorities still do not always check recovered goods for microdots.

Tracking Systems

Unfortunately, tracking systems are often inappropriate for sculptures, as tracker battery lives will generally not last long periods of time (even before temperature fluctuations outdoors are taken into account). A tracker may still be appropriate if you intend to send your high value sculpture between homes overseas, and they can be found online very cheaply.

Notify Scrap Yards

Notifying local scrap yards and bronze foundries and providing pictures may help prevent a sculpture’s destruction, or make dishonest third parties wary of purchase or sale.

Online Selling Platforms

While making an occasional search on online selling sites such as Ebay is unlikely to bear fruit, people have been known to locate stolen goods using online searches. Likewise, local physical places like drinking places and restaurants named similarly to your sculpture (the Black Pig, The Stag) are occasional recipients. Similarly, an email to two or three physical auction houses in your area isn’t likely to bring benefit, but may still be worthwhile.

Explore Related Articles