Prickly plants prevent crime

THIS weekend police in Moreton in Marsh will be visiting two garden centres in the area to talk to shoppers about how garden lighting, prickly plants, bushes and hedging can help keep homes secure.
On Saturday September 18 PC Caroline Paxford and PCSO Renee Morgan will be visiting the Fosseway Garden Centre and the Batsford Garden Centre offering advice about defensive gardening and home security.
In June Gloucestershire Constabulary launched their award-winning Defensive Gardening campaign for 2010. The campaign is supported by Crimestoppers and, following its inception in 2009, won a national award from Secured by Design which included a grant to fund the campaign, and more besides, this year.
PC Paxford said: “I think people would be very surprised to learn how effective the techniques the campaign advocates can be. I’d like to encourage people to come and visit us on Saturday, or any one of the garden centres and nurseries that are involved, to learn about these tips and many more.”
Some people are reluctant about certain home security purchases as they can be unattractive but an impenetrable hedge is just as effective as security fencing and looks far more attractive. Spiky shrubs around vulnerable windows can serve as a deterrent to those tempted to break in and small purchases from a garden centre such as shed alarms and dawn to dusk lights can go a long way to helping deter thieves.
In total 39 garden centres and nurseries across the county are supporting the 2010 campaign and visitors to these stores will be able to pick up a leaflet, produced by Crimestoppers, which give top tips to help beat the garden burglar and include a comprehensive list of prickly plants.
The officers will be at the Fosseway Garden Centre on the A429 from 10am until 1pm and at the Batsford Garden Centre on the A44 from 2pm to 5pm.
More information about the Defensive Gardening campaign, a comprehensive list of the types of prickly plants to purchase and a list of the Garden Centres involved can be found on the Gloucestershire Constabulary website.

(Reproduced from Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard, Sept 15th)

Gardien Tip: For comprehensive advice about garden security visit www.garden-security.co.uk