Hi...I live in a courtyard apartment complex that has six units
surrounding a small courtyard.  I have a potted garden on my small
porch and would now like to place a small table and two chairs on the
tiny lawn area in front of the porch.  I will need to chain and lock the
furniture to something so that it does not get stolen.  It doesn't
have to be theft-proof, but it needs to be something that at least
deters theft.  I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a large screw
with a hook on top, that I
could screw into the ground of the lawn area, and then run a chain
through the furniture and the hook and then lock it.  It would have to
be low profile....something that could be mowed over.  I cannot dig a
hole, pour concrete and afix a hook this way.  It has to be something
"non-permanent".  Anyone know of a way for me to a attain security for
my furniture?

Looking forward to hearing your answer.

If you buy your table and chairs at a yard sale (slighty tacky) the
probability of theift is reduced. Touch up minor dings with a wild
color of paint. Your loss is reduced if theift does occur. Consider 5
items instead of three, and fasten them together with light chain.
This will require the thief to carry all 5 items simultaineously or
find a way to brake the chain.   Neil

The screw into the ground thingy is available at most pet stores (to
tie out your dog on the lawn) and even bigger ones are available at
mobile home salvage places. They were used to keep the wind from
tipping over mobile homes, campers, sheds etc. You do need to concider
possible injury if someone trips over your chain.   Neil

Lawn furniture is at least not as desireable of an item to steal.  The
bottom line in security imo is that if someone wants to steal
something badly enough, they will.  The trick is to make them work too
hard to steal your stuff versus someone else's.

If the furniture is metal and/or heavy, just chaining all of it
together it a theft deterrent.  Or you can buy some concrete blocks or
something else heavy to pass the chain through.  If you chain isn't a
giant log chain, it will be easy to cut, so don't get carried away
with the chaining - think "weakest link". Video cameras are cheap. 
Fake ones are even cheaper.  A "beware of dog" sign is about $1. 
Don't get a sticker that advertises that you have a gun - guns are
*great* to steal because they can always be resold quickly.

Thanks for the tips folks...much appreciated!

Yvonne