Summer is boom time for burglars

Now the clocks have gone forward, it's officially British summer time. For anyone with a garden, that means it's time to start dusting off the barbeque and patio furniture in preparation for sunny afternoons and balmy evenings spent outside. But sunbathers and barbeque enthusiasts are not the only ones who enjoy spending time in the gardens of Great Britain. Thieves hoping to steal your plants and furniture also like the summer, when their activity jumps 58%.So how can you protect yourself?The days of leaving the back door open are long gone in most areas of the UK. But while the majority of us take care to secure our homes before heading out or going to bed, the same cannot be said of our gardens, terraces and patios. That could prove a costly mistake, though, according to new research from Halifax Home Insurance. It is urging Britons lucky enough to have outside space to be on their guard against opportunistic outdoor thieves, who have been known to steal everything from garden gnomes to barbeques and even mature shrubs and plants. Unsurprisingly, garden theft is more common in summer time as this is when most people leave patio furniture and other potentially valuable items outdoors. The Halifax figures show that last year garden theft leapt by 58% during the summer months. And with an average outlay of £429 needed to replace the items taken, failing to take measures to make your garden less attractive to thieves could end up costing you dear. Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "Homeowners can forget to pay as much attention to security of the outside of the home, but with many people now realising how much value they can add to their property by improving their gardens, there are rich pickings for thieves. Now is the time to take steps to avoid becoming the next victim."It is hard to prevent the theft of shrubs and flowers planted in your garden, but there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of having other portable items stolen.

Ways to avoid being targeted by garden thieves include ensuring that garden sheds, gates, garages and outbuildings remain securely locked at all times, putting bricks or stones in the bottom of patio tubs to make them harder for thieves to carry and marking valuable items such as patio furniture and ornaments with your postcode. If you are thinking of revamping your garden, it is also worth bearing in mind that high walls, spiky fences and prickly bushes can make it more difficult to access, while gravelling your driveway makes it easier to hear anyone who approaches your property. Some home insurance policies include cover for garden furniture, and items stored in sheds and garages, so it is also worth checking this if you fear you may fall prey to garden thieves. Halifax Home Insurance, for example, offers up to £500 for stolen plants, trees and shrubs and provides a further £500 cover for contents in the open such as furniture, barbecues and garden ornaments. The contents of outbuildings, sheds and garages are also covered up to £2,000.

(Reproduced from walletpop.co.uk 29th March)

Gardien Tip: All the advice you need about garden security can be found at www.garden-security.co.uk