# Chain that will withstand bolt cutters? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-that-will-withstand-bolt-cutters/955722 "2021-12-08T17:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-that-will-withstand-bolt-cutters/955722/21 "2021-12-09T01:21:17Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Either that, or they’ll just cut the lock instead of the chain. The padlock is the weakest point in all this (along with whatever you have the chain wrapped around). There are some pretty tough padlocks out there, but they’re pricey. A Master Lock is not what you need. Something like [this one](https://www.amazon.com/American-Lock-A5360-Different-Rekeyable/dp/B000M7N13E/ref=sr_1_5?crid=E50I1ZL73VQ2&keywords=bolt+cutter+proof+padlock&qid=1639012643&sprefix=bolt+cutter+proof+%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-5), probably. I am always amused by people who attach a $40 padlock to a $2 hasp on their tool sheds and expect them to be secure. Never heard of a pry bar? ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-that-will-withstand-bolt-cutters/955722/22 "2021-12-16T00:39:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I am always amused by people who attach a $40 padlock to a $2 hasp on their tool sheds and expect them to be secure. Never heard of a pry bar? One of my early life lessons was on the ranch where I spent my summers. Driving into the ranch (the house was on some land outside the ranch) the rancher asked me to take a look at the locked gate into the ranch. After I looked it over, he explained that the chain keeping the gate closed (secured by a padlock) was the cheapest, flimsiest length of dog chain he could find. He explained that the purpose of the locked gate was to keep casual visitors who drove up the dirt road leading up to the entrance from coming in. They would see that it was locked and turn around. On the other hand, if someone was really intent on getting in, they could cut the chain, cut the padlock, or even use their vehicle to break the (wooden) gate. In any case, if they were determined, they were getting in. He said he preferred that they break the cheapest, most easily repairable route to getting in. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-that-will-withstand-bolt-cutters/955722/23 "2021-12-16T01:02:45Z")
Padlocks are not always a great deterrent, either. I was trained to break open a standard grade padlock using two open-end wrenches. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-that-will-withstand-bolt-cutters/955722/24 "2021-12-16T01:39:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When I made the police report the sergeant was disappointed that I didn’t have a picture from a porch camera. On my NextDoor group, people post pics and video of porch thieves every day. It doesn’t really seem to help much. The stolen yard/porch decor here can often be found for sale on local neighborhood facebook groups and OfferUp. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-that-will-withstand-bolt-cutters/955722/25 "2021-12-16T03:10:00Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > He explained that the purpose of the locked gate was to keep casual visitors who drove up the dirt road leading up to the entrance from coming in. They would see that it was locked and turn around. On the other hand, if someone was really intent on getting in, they could cut the chain, cut the padlock, or even use their vehicle to break the (wooden) gate. When I lived in the country, I never locked the house. Not because I trusted people but because I was so isolated that there was no reasonable way to secure that house. Even with an alarm, the police force of six people was a 20-minute drive away. Never had a bit of ~~fucker~~ \* trouble in 20 years. > [@needscoffee](#): > > The stolen yard/porch decor here can often be found for sale on local neighborhood facebook groups and OfferUp. Someone on Nextdoor suggested I keep an eye on those places. * * * - My kindle keyboard supplied “fucker” when I Swyped “trouble.” I decided to leave it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chain-that-will-withstand-bolt-cutters/955722.md?page=1)