However, Halifax Home Insurance is reminding people to take sensible measures to protect any valuable garden equipment from potential green-fingered thieves.
Garden theft increased by 63 per cent during the summer months last year
London was the number one hotspot for garden theft claims
Items thieves look out for include furniture, tools, barbecues and garden ornaments
Take steps now to make life difficult for would-be thieves, says Halifax Home Insurance.
Despite the poor summer weather last year, garden theft increased by 63 per cent during the summer months, and the cost of replacing stolen items also increased last year by 12 per cent to �433.00 according to Halifax in-house claims data. Those in and around the capital need to be particularly on their guard, as London was the number one hotspot for garden theft claims last year, followed by Richmond and Twickenham in second place, and Grimsby in third.
Senior claims manager for Halifax Home Insurance, Martyn Foulds, said: “It is important for homeowners to bear in mind the value of items outside the home as well as inside, as the collective cost of patio furniture, barbecues and children’s play equipment can soon add up. We’d advise people to check that their home insurance policy protects against theft from the garden and we’d also recommend making life as difficult as possible for the opportunist garden thief.”
The following tips can help protect the home from would-be garden thieves:
Don’t leave items of value such as tools, lawnmowers or bicycles outside in the garden – lock them away out of sight
Put bricks in the bottom of patio tubs to make them heavy and difficult to carry
Mark valuable items such as ornaments and furniture with your postcode so that if they do get stolen, Police may be able to track down the rightful owner
Join your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme, or start one up if there isn’t one in your area
High walls, spiked fences and prickly hedges can make your garden less accessible to would-be thieves
Gravel on driveways and in gardens can help deter thieves as they can be heard approaching the garden.
Homeowners are also advised to make sure their home insurance policy covers them should they fall prey to garden thieves. Halifax Home Insurance offers up to �500 for contents in the open such as garden furniture, ornaments and barbecues. Contents of outbuildings such as greenhouses, sheds and garages are insured up to �2,000.
