Garden crime 'rockets by 25%' when clocks go forward

Green-fingered homeowners are being warned to secure their sheds and garages as British summertime brings a spike in theft from the great outdoors.

Analysis of 10 years of claims data from Aviva reveals that burglaries in gardens and outbuildings leap by more than 25 per cent when the clocks go forward, with the average haul totalling around £850.

The insurer said 42 per cent of thefts last summer were for power tools, including electric drills, planers and saws, while 39 per cent were for simple hand tools like spades, shovels, rakes and forks.

However, 19 per cent of items stolen included electric and petrol lawnmowers, chainsaws and ladders, according to the study.

Thefts from outside the home start to increase as evenings get lighter at the beginning of March, with a 10 per cent increase compared with the dark nights of January, Aviva’s analysis suggests.

Peter Ketteringham, household underwriting manager, said: “Extra hours of sunlight are obviously very welcome after months of darkness, but it also means that your expensive power tools, bikes and golf clubs are more visible than ever to a passing thief.”

(Reproduced from myfinances.co.uk  12th March)

Gardien Comment: All the advice you need and top class security products can be found at www.garden-security.co.uk