Malvern hit by spate of shed thefts

Tuesday 21st April 2009

POLICE are urging Malvern residents to keep their sheds secure after a spate of thefts in the area.
The first theft happened between 6pm last Thursday (April 16) and 9.30am on Sunday at Merick Road. A £50 Bosch jigsaw, concrete breaker worth £60 and a £60 Makita grinder were taken from a shed.
At Lansdowne Road, between 3pm last Friday and 2.30pm the next day, a red Sovereign petrol strimmer worth £150 and a yellow McCulloch hedge trimmer worth £60 were taken.
And a third shed was broken into between 4pm last Friday and 3pm on Sunday at Moorlands Road. A petrol brush cutter worth £150, a black and yellow McCulloch chainsaw worth £150 and a £150 leaf blower/shredder were taken.
Community Support Officer Karen Watso, said: “As the weather brightens up many people are grabbing the opportunity to get out into their gardens and allotments.
“But spring time can see an increase in thefts from garden and allotment sheds. While many people take steps to protect their homes and the property inside them, they often leave valuable equipment such as power tools, mowers and bikes in sheds. Often the sheds are unsecured or not strong or secure enough to defend against thieves - an invitation to opportunist criminals.
“We would ask residents take the advice on offer regards garden security and ensure we ‘weed out’ garden crime in Malvern.”
The advice on garden security is part of the Constabulary’s Safe & Secure campaign and the message encouraging residents to ‘Nip Garden Crime In The Bud’ began this month in time for spring.

(Reproduced from the Malvern Gazette)

GARDIEN TIP: There is much you can do to secure an existing shed. See our advice at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/shed-outbuilding-security.aspx. Alternatively upgrade to a secure metal shed - see http://www.garden-security.co.uk/Steel-Storage-Unit.aspx