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Garden security

Beating thieves in the garden

As a nation, we are spending more and more of our time in the garden and, as a consequence of this the value of the items within our gardens has risen - making it a prime target area for thieves.

Here's what you can do to protect your garden antiques and outdoor furniture from 'green-fingered' thieves:

• Be aware of the limits of your home & contents policy and ensure you have adequate coverage for items which exceed that limit.

• Wherever possible, secure items of value to an immovable object, or concrete them in position.

• Take photographs of valuable garden antiques and statues and data-tag or mark the item with your postcode, to aid recovery in the event of a theft.

• Consider planting prickly or inhospitable plants and bushes around the garden statues and ornaments. In this way you can still achieve an attractive backdrop and make the thief's job more difficult (and uncomfortable) at the same time!

• Fit good locks to garden gates and ensure you use them!

• Fit motion sensitive security lights to areas where items of value are located.

• If you are going away, alert a neighbour or your local police station (see our guide on holiday security).

• Wherever possible, lock items of value away in a well-secured garage or garden shed.

• In addition to garden antiques and outdoor furniture, the humble lawnmower and the contents of your garden shed are still attractive to thieves. So, the more difficult you make them to steal, the more chance you will have of hanging on to them.

• Look at your garden shed, garage or workshop through the eyes of a potential thief - how easy would it be for you to break in and remove valuable tools or equipment?

• Fit approved locks to shed and garage windows and strong padlocks to doors and most importantly, make sure you use them!

• Secure ladders inside your shed or garage to prevent them being used by a thief. If this isn't possible, padlock them to an outdoor wall using a close-lock and heavy-duty chain.

• Thieves like garden tools and equipment because they are often easy to sell and difficult to trace. Clearly marking items with your postcode using an approved identification kit can deter thieves - especially when you use window stickers which warn that your possessions are marked.

• Never leave lawnmowers and other equipment unattended - thieves have been known to remove items while their owner has popped indoors for a few minutes.

• Make sure the fencing surrounding your property is in good repair and remember to close and lock all external gates if you have them.

• Consider joining or setting-up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your area - they really do help reduce crime. And active membership can provide insurance discounts.

• Ensure you remove any objects which could allow a thief to work unobserved - overgrown bushes or trellis work may provide a handy screen behind which a thief could hide.

• Good lighting can help deter thieves - motion sensitive security lights and other outdoor lighting make it difficult for a thief to work unobserved.

• Never leave a garage or shed unlocked - especially if it provides access to your property.

• Remember that a thief may break into your garage or shed to steal tools and equipment necessary to break into your home!

• Why not beat the burglar and help your local wildlife by planting a prickly mixed hedge around your boundary. Once established, thieves will hate it but birds and small mammals will love it

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