Two-legged garden pests

It’s spring so Dyfed-Powys Police has launched a defensive planting initiative to keep your garden safe! We are always being reminded about how to keep your property safe, but Dyfed-Powys Police is highlighting one method that doesn’t include a lock, alarm or security lighting – its good old fashioned flora! Defensive planting is nature’s way of helping to reduce crime. Thieves won’t want to force their way through or over a prickly hedge – especially as only the smallest trace of blood or shred of ripped clothing could help the Police identify the offender. So what can you do to keep your garden safe?

“There are a variety of ways to combat garden crime by going down the environmentally-friendly route,” says Powys Chief Superintendent Steve Hughson. “Professional thieves are fully aware that gardens can sometimes have very expensive and sought-after property, such as garden tools like lawnmowers and strimmers. Gardens also contain substantial amounts of heating oil, which needs to be protected.” Dyfed-Powys Police is highlighting methods, which demonstrates the advantages of defensive planting. Prickly shrubs can, if planted around your oil-tank for instance, provide an effective and decorative deterrent. Chief Superintendent Steve Hughson adds: “Members of the community should feel reassured that this type of crime is very rare. However, everyone needs to be vigilant in protecting their own property and reporting suspicious activity in their area. To help support this Neighbourhood Policing Teams across the county are visible and there to engage with, and support residents to provide security advice where necessary.”

Celebrity Garden designer and broadcaster Lynne Allbutt is also backing the initiative. She says: “I am used to advising people on more traditional garden pests. It’s a shame the two-legged type are also entering gardens uninvited. “Prevention is better than cure and I want people to take responsibility for garden security with easy solutions such as not storing expensive garden tools in greenhouses. This time of year people might buy a new lawnmower or hedge-trimmer, so it’s important that they are careful not to leave empty product boxes outside their property – as this can invite criminals.” Lynne highlights that as well as ‘defensive planting’, there are several other aspects to consider keeping your garden safe and sound, and they include:
Repair all broken or damaged fence panels and fix gaps in your boundaries. Holes in a fence or hedge are like ‘welcome’ signs to a thief.
Consider placing trelliswork carefully. In the wrong place it can act like a ladder, allowing easy access for an intruder. Trellis work fixed to the wall of a house, for example, can provide access straight to a bedroom window.
Instead of locating a shed out of sight in your garden, re-think your design and incorporate it as a feature or focal point. This way it can be positioned within sight of the house making it a safer place to keep your tools and belongings. Paint it the same colour as an adjoining fence and also colour co-ordinate benches and other woodwork for maximum visual impact.
Choose a building that is part shed, part summer house or add a pergola to a simple shed to enhance its appeal.
Don’t store valuable tools and things in an old greenhouse, where they’re on full view; give the greenhouse away and buy a shed if you need the storage.
To ensure you get the best out of your planting: Use prickly shrubs such as Berberis Julianae or Ilex. Use low shrubs where necessary so that natural surveillance will not be impeded.
Water features can also form part of a defensive boundary.
Lay gravel, to hear people or vehicles approaching.
Residents who have heating oil in storage tanks are advised:Be aware of your oil levels and check frequently. Where possible keep your levels low and the same when re-filling. Speak to your supplier with regards to more frequent but smaller deliveries. If you have a plastic tank, consider erecting trellis-style fencing around the tank with one end hinged and locked for filling purposes. If you have a steel tank, then fit a quality anti-cut close-shackled padlock.
If you have outside security lighting, then please ensure that the system works and that the light sensors have been adjusted correctly to detect movement.

(Reproduced from NewsWales.co.uk 8th March 2010)

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