This week brought the first official day of spring. Thank goodness for that as we all breathe a collective sigh of relief. And as Easter weekend approaches, there will be one big draw for those of us lucky enough to have some outdoor space – the garden. But be aware. According to the Crime Prevention website, as many as 1 in 7 households a year experience a theft from the garden, and this is on the increase.
This is mainly because gardening, and entertaining in the garden, has become increasingly popular over recent years. Lots of us are investing in expensive garden equipment, furniture and plants, all of which are highly desirable to opportunist thieves. And while most people take steps to protect their homes and the property inside them, they leave valuable equipment in gardens and unsecured sheds without giving it too much thought.
10 Top Tips
- Gates, fences and walls should be kept in good repair to stop intruders getting in.
- Grow prickly plants close to vulnerable areas such as windows, fences, boundary walls and drainpipes.
- Don’t leave expensive equipment like garden tools, mowers, bikes and power tools in the shed. If you have no choice, make sure your shed is as secure as possible by fitting a very good lock, and even an alarm. It’s also worth chaining large items like bikes together.
- Don’t leave ladders and tools lying around in your garden - these could be used to break into your home.
- Mark your garden tools and equipment with your postcode.
- Ensure you have well positioned external lighting.
- Make sure rear garden fences are high enough to make climbing them difficult. A trellis can be used to add additional height.
- Your side gates should be positioned as close to the front of the house as possible. Thieves will be put off by the fact that they are in full view of the neighbours.
- Keep gates locked at all times.
- Don’t leave expensive items such as BBQs and patio heaters on display. As tempting as it is not to store them away in the summer, these are very attractive to thieves.
Michael Ward, Managing Director of PayingTooMuch.com added “As better weather approaches, be aware that although items you have stored in sheds and garages are usually covered for theft under your home contents insurance, there will likely be a maximum level of cover – usually in the region of £2,500. Some insurers also have a ‘single article limit’, so if you have an expensive bike or barbeque stored, it may not be fully covered.”
