Cycle security warning after attempted theft leads to arrest (Downend, Avon)

Police are warning cyclists to make sure their bikes are secured at home after a householder disturbed a man climbing over his seven foot gate. It happened on Saturday evening, May 26 2012, at about 5.30pm, at a house in Downend. The householder and his wife were in their garden when they saw a man climb over the gate. When challenged he made off in company with a second man, and the couple realised a bicycle had been disturbed. Police arrested three men nearby on suspicion of attempted theft. All three were later released on police bail pending further enquiries. Neighbourhood PC Wayne Hodge said: "Fewer than 15 per cent of people reporting their bikes stolen are able to give us enough details to identify their bicycle and prove it's been stolen, should it be recovered. I'd urge cyclists to mark their bikes with their postcode and register the serial number on the free national database, www.immobilise.com." PC Hodge added that bikes are being targeted by thieves who break into sheds and garages. The advice is to make sure your bicycle – and other valuables – are secure even within an outbuilding, by chaining them to a ground anchor. Other security advice includes: • Fitting an inexpensive alarm – available from most DIY stores • Ensuring fences, gates and outbuildings are sturdy • Putting prickly plants alongside fences and under windows and drainpipes • Using gravel for garden paths • Fitting low-energy security lighting • Using 'Sold Secure' standard locks on gates and outbuildings • Using coach bolts to fit quality hinges For more crime prevention advice visit the police website, www.avonandsomerset.police.uk (Reproduced from avonandsomersetpolice.co.uk  28th May) Gardien Comment:  See the article on bike security at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/bike-security-print.htm

Lion ornament stolen from garden

 

AN ornate concrete lion was swiped from a front garden in Frinton.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after the theft from a house in Rainham Way between May 17 and May 23.

The lion is 50cm tall, weighs 20kg and has a large metal spike in its base.

It is valued at about £50.

Sergeant Pete Gerard from Walton police station said: “I would like people to keep an eye out for the lion, and anyone who witnessed the crime to contact us.

“We also remind residents to be alert and keep an eye out for each other’s property."

Sgt Gerard also directed residents to the ‘safer by design garden’ at Parker’s Garden Centre in Frinton.

The model garden was set up at the garden centre earlier in the year to showcase crime prevention devices and methods that people could use to make their homes safer.

Anyone who can help police with the concrete lion theft should call Sgt Gerard at Walton police station on 101.

(Reproduced from Clacton Gazette,  26th May)

Gardien Comment: It is not necessarily the value of an itme stolen but the fact that it can perhaps not be replaced.  See the advice at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/garden-antiques-security.aspx and http://www.garden-security.co.uk/outdoor-items-security.aspx

Hunstanton: Garden ornaments taken in theft

THIEVES stole a selection of garden ornaments from the front garden of a property in Hunstanton last weekend.

Three concrete bears and a concrete pig were stolen from a house in Seagate Road between 7.30pm on May 19 and 10am the following morning.

If you have any information about the theft, please call 101 (calls cost 15p).

(Reproduced from Lynn News,  26th May)

Gardien Comment: See the advice re Garden Statuary at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/garden-antiques-security.aspx

Rise in Shed Burglaries - Crime Prevention Information

Maybe you need more than just a key for your shed security...

Cambridgeshire Police are seeing a recent rise in shed burglaries and fraud related crimes. Due to this please be aware of the following crime prevention information.

SHED SECURITY - SHEDUCATE

Secure the access to your garden area by locking gates and using thorny bushes - where it is safe - next to walls and fences. The boundary is your first line of defence!

Have you visibly marked the contents of your shed? It is recommended that you mark your property with your postcode or other recognisable features and make a note of any serial numbers. Photograph valuable plants, ornaments and garden furniture.

External security lights which are activated by movement are a strong deterrent to a thief.

Doors and windows of sheds and outbuildings need securing. Use good quality security fitments such as padlocks and bolts. Metal grilles or locks will help make windows less vulnerable.

Use coach bolts or non-return screws to secure door hinges and security fastenings.

Chain cycles, mowers, ladders and tools to strong anchorage points on shed framing or floor.

Alarms for sheds and outbuildings are inexpensive (under £15) and can be obtained from DIY shops.

Together we'll crack crime. Join a Neighbourhood Watch or Countrywatch scheme.

Examine your insurance policies. Check that your household policy covers you for theft from your garden and outbuildings.

(Reproduced from aboutmyarea.co.uk  24th May)

Gardien Comment:  Good advice - much more is available, along with quality security products, at www.garden-security.co.uk

 

Garden theft costing home owners an average of £620

 

Many of us keep expensive items in our gardens, meaning it's more important than ever to ensure they are covered on our home insurance.

Stolen or damaged items from gardens are averaging claims worth £620, according to Saga Home Insurance's own claims analysis.

The research shows that 44% of over 50s cite the garden as one of their home's most important features. But while half say their garden is where they relax and a fifth feel their garden is an escape from the world, in fact, our horticultural havens can actually become a source of stress.

Two-thirds of all UK adults say they keep items ranging from barbecues and water features to countless ornamental animals, pixies and gnomes in their garden, and this figure increases to 78% for the over 50s. Adding all of this up, the research shows a quarter of gardeners over the age of 50 have more than £250 worth of these items alone in their gardens.

With startling facts such as one in 12 over 50s having items stolen from their garden, making sure your garden items are insured should be of great importance.

No matter what age range you fall into, check that your home insurance policy includes cover for garden items. Tot up the value of everything in your garden, including children's toys, lawnmowers and items kept in the shed or garage.

Find out whether your policy has a limit on the amount of cover it offers on garden items – this varies depending on the policy and can be anywhere between £250 to unlimited cover.

Roger Ramsden, chief executive, Saga Services, comments: "People enjoy creating their perfect garden, often investing a great deal of time and money in doing so, and this is particularly prevalent in the over 50s.

"With the average garden insurance claim costing around £620 I would encourage keen gardeners to ensure they have the peace of mind of insurance cover for their precious garden possessions."

(Reproduced from homeinsurance.co.uk  24th May)

Gardien Comment: Check out the level of garden cover you need with the assistance of the Inventory check sheet at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/inventory.aspx

Protect Flowers and Shrubbery Says Swinton Home Insurance

Green fingered homeowners are being urged to check their home insurance policies to ensure their plants and shrubbery are covered.

Swinton, a leading UK high street retailer of home insurance surveyed 1,000 online customers and found that 37% were unsure whether flowers and plants were actually covered in their policies. Furthermore, nearly a fifth of homeowners (18%) said they had been a victim of malicious garden damage in the past.

The most popular items in a British garden are:

      
        1.  Patio furniture
        
        2.  Barbecue
        
        3.  Lawnmower
        
        4.  Flowers and plants
        
        5.  Ornaments
        

Many homeowners spend a lot of time and money making their garden an enjoyable area in which to relax so it is important to protect this investment. Insurers offer varying levels of cover for garden items so it is vital that homeowners know exactly what is and isn't covered.

Swinton offer GBP 1,000 of cover for items in the garden which includes malicious damage, theft or fire to garden furniture, flowers, plants, lawns bushes and trees. This would not include neglect or if damage is done by the weather or animals.

Steve Chelton, Claims Manager at Swinton said, "Many homeowners overlook flowers and shrubbery in their gardens. It is important to check whether these are included in your home and contents insurance policy as they can be expensive to replace if they were stolen or damaged."

(Reproduced from marketwatch.com  24th May)

Gardien Comment: Use the garden inventory checklist at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/inventory.aspx to help evaluate your garden contents and then match it to your insurance cover.

Garden theft on the rise

We’re mad keen on kicking back in the garden in Britain, particularly the over 50s. In fact, Saga recently found out that nearly half of seniors reckon that the garden is one of their homes' most important features and that their outdoor space is where they like to relax.

But what with cash being lavished on British gardens on items like barbeques, patio heaters, chimineas, summer houses, gnomes, and goodness knows what else, it makes your average garden rich pickings for thieves, especially with metal theft on the rise. Saga says that the average claim for garden thefts is £620, with one in 12 people that the company surveyed saying that they’d been a victim of garden theft.

Yorkshire was found to have the most concentrated incidence of garden theft, with residents there being four times as likely (13 per cent) to have something stolen from their garden as those in the West Midlands, the area with the lowest occurence of garden theft. (3 per cent)

Roger Ramsden, chief executive of Saga Services, said: “People enjoy creating their perfect garden, often investing a great deal of time and money in doing so, and this is particularly prevalent in the over 50s. With the average garden insurance claim costing around £620 I would encourage keen gardeners to ensure they have the peace of mind of insurance cover for their precious garden possessions.”

Gocompare.com’s resident green-fingered home insurance expert Mark Greening said: “If you’re a keen gardener, it’s important that you check your home insurance policy as the level of cover will vary depending on your provider. Most policies will have some level of cover included but this often relates to contents in outbuildings or locked sheds. In this case, provided that the garage or shed is bolted and locked, insurers will often treat items here as if they were kept in the home.”

“With items not locked away, or “contents in the open” as they are often referred to in a policy, there will be specific limits in place so it is best to check what cover you have and whether you need to extend it,” he said, whilst looking up from tending to a clematis. “If the contents of your garden are particularly valuable, you may need to consider a specialist garden insurance policy.”

(Reproduced from news.gocompare.com  23rd May)

Gardien Comment:  Use the garden inventory checklist at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/inventory.aspx to give an accurate value of what is in your garden and then check your level of cover.