Lock up your lawnmowers - increase in garden thefts

 

Gardeners are being told to lock up their lawnmowers and guard against thieves taking advantage of the sizzling summer weather.

Devon and Cornwall Police figures show that there were 837 thefts in Cornwall last year from gardens, sheds, outbuildings and outside homes.

 

Bob Bunney, force crime reduction advisor for Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “The long summer evenings mean the goods in your garden are more visible to thieves, so try to avoid advertising what you’ve got.

“Clear your garden every evening, make sure all sheds and garages are properly locked and secure, and either move patio furniture and expensive barbecues into a shed or use chains and padlocks.”

 

Home Office figure show thefts from British gardens are on the increase, with around 5,000 gardens targeted every week.

 

Rural insurer Cornish Mutual wanted to make the public aware of the numbers of crimes that have taken place in the hope that they will increase security.

Alan Goddard, chief executive of Cornish Mutual, said: "People often store expensive tools and equipment which together can be worth several thousand pounds in a shed or garage which isn’t properly locked, and criminals know that.

“Thieves are often opportunist and will target gardens with less secure storage, so a good quality padlock can deter them, and save you from becoming a victim of theft."

The public are advised to lock all garden tools away at night and make sure all garden furniture is tagged so it can be traced

 

(Reproduced from thisiscornwall.co.uk, 25th July)

 

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