Green-fingered homeowners are being warned to secure their sheds and garages as the long-awaited British Summertime also brings a spike in theft from the great outdoors.
Analysis of ten years of claims data from Aviva reveals that thefts from gardens and outbuildings shoot up by over a quarter (25 per cent) when the clocks go forward with the average haul totalling around £850.
Children’s toys, bikes and garden tools – from the swankiest lawnmower to the basic rake – are the thieves favourite:
Of the garden equipment stolen last year:
42 per cent of thefts were for power tools, like electric drills, planers and saws
39 per cent were for simple hand tools like spades, shovels, rakes and forks
19 per cent were for electric and petrol lawnmowers, chainsaws and ladders
Statistics show that thefts from outside the home start to increase as evenings get lighter at the beginning of March with a 10 per cent increase compared to the dark nights of January.
Claims then steadily increase as the days get longer and lighter until they reach their peak in July and August when they are almost 40 per cent higher than at the beginning of the year.
Peter Ketteringham, household underwriting manager at Aviva, said; “Extra hours of sunlight are obviously very welcome after months of darkness, but it also means that your expensive power tools, bikes and golf clubs are more visible than ever to a passing thief, as is your home security- or lack of it!
“So try not to advertise what you’ve got, make sure sheds and summerhouses are properly secured and clear up your garden every evening so there’s nothing lying around that could tempt a criminal on to your property.
“And bear in mind that loose items like ladders and wheelie bins are perfect for burglars to use to get into your home, so shut them away, out of sight if you can.”
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