Summertime brings green fingered thieves to UK gardens

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According to Halifax Home Insurance in-house claims data, theft from the garden increased by 52 per cent during the summer months compared to the winter months last year. With the average cost of replacing stolen items a hefty £429, it is worth remembering home security outdoors as well as in.

Senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, Martyn Foulds says: “Homeowners can forget to pay as much attention to security of the outside of the home, but with many people now realising how much value they can add to their property by improving their gardens, there are now rich pickings for thieves, so now is the time to take steps to avoid becoming the next victim.”

The following tips can help homeowners foil the garden thief:

Ensure garden sheds, gates, garages and outbuildings remain securely locked at all times

Put bricks or stones in the bottom of patio tubs to make them harder for thieves to carry

Mark valuable items such as patio furniture and ornaments with your postcode, and keep photos of your garden valuables in case anything is stolen or vandalised

Join a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme, or if there isn’t one in your area, why not start one?

High walls, spiky fences and prickly bushes can make it more difficult to access the garden

Gravel on driveways can help you to hear someone approaching your property

Avoid leaving tools, lawnmowers and bicycles in the garden – always lock them away out of sight. Remember tools and ladders can be used to break into the home too.

Halifax also advises homeowners to check their home insurance policies to make sure they are covered should they fall prey to garden thieves. Halifax Home Insurance offers up to £500 for stolen plants, trees and shrubs and also provides a further £500 cover for contents in the open such as furniture, barbecues and garden ornaments. Contents of outbuildings, sheds and garages are covered up to £2,000.

According to Halifax’s in-house claims data, the top ten hotspots for garden theft last year were;