Author: Catriona Singfield

25% of us have suffered theft from our gardens and outbuildings. That’s up to 5,000 people a day. And to make matters worse, this number is set to rise as the garden and landscape business takes off. As a nation of plant lovers, Britons spend nearly £4 billion annually on products for the garden, according to statistics gathered by the Horticultural Trades Association. It’s no wonder thieves see golden opportunities among the flowers!

And yet, according to a survey conducted by top insurers Churchill, 38% of us don’t take what’s on the outside of our homes into account. Garden security is not a priority, despite the high cost of the equipment we often leave outside – lawnmowers, patio heaters, gas barbecues – all rather obvious and tempting targets. But what of the plants themselves? Thieves have not been slow to take advantage, as Mrs J P from Glamorgan was shocked to find out. She glanced out of her window to see a man “dashing up the street clutching one of our plants”. Sadly this is not an isolated incident: 18,000 similar thefts were reported last year, with the most common item on the thieves’ list being the household favourite, the hanging basket.

The average shed contains £1,300 in tools, toys and sports gear, with only a padlock between it and the opportunist with a break-in on the mind. It isn’t much to guard all that gear – imagine leaving the TV or your DVD collection outside. Would you expect it to be there in the morning?

But you may think that you can relax; after all, your insurance covers your garden and shed – or does it? Not all policies include items left outside, and Home and Contents usually only includes things secured in a locked outbuilding or shed.

To illustrate this by example, consider the policy offered by Norwich Union Direct. They allow £250 worth of cover for objects left outside unsecured, and £1,500 for items under lock and key. Unfortunately if you have invested in a new patio heater and a stylish gas-powered barbecue for those heady summer evenings, this may not be enough. Other high street insurers such as the AA, the Prudential and Abbey provide up to £500 for items left in the open, and Lloyds TSB, Direct Line and Esure offer up to £1,000. More Than come out on top with the highest limit of £2,000.

This is fine for hard goods, but what about the growing plants that make up your garden? They are an increasingly popular target for theft, but only a few insurers provide cover for them. Skipton and Saga both offer special provision for plants, as well as the members’ insurance of up to £10,000 from the Royal Horticultural Society. So far, the idea of plant insurance just has not been taken up by most mainstream insurance providers.

So what can you do to protect yourself? In addition to making sure your garden is a thief-proof as it can be, try our tips below for security and peace of mind on the patio:

§ Lock up as much as possible. Make good use of a shed or garage for storage – out of sight is out of mind for many chance thefts. Buy the best quality padlock you can afford.
§ Include your shed or garage in your burglar alarm circuit. That way you will know instantly if anyone tries to break in.
§ Mark your expensive garden items as you would those from inside your home – you can use a special permanent marker that glows under UV light. Keep an account of your purchases, and how much they cost.
§ Secure any valuable pots or ornaments if you can.
§ If you have an entrance to the rear of the house, fit a gate and make sure you keep it locked.
§ Fit sensor lights for the outside of your home.
§ If you lay a gravel path, you will hear any intruders approaching, and the prospect of a noisy path will also put them off.
§ Plant a prickly hedge or other spiky plants to dissuade thieves.
§ Check the small print to make sure that your insurance covers the items you keep outside – as we’ve said here, they may not be included.

Check the Internet for Home and Contents Insurance policies – not only can you find the best deals, but most insurers offer discounts for buying

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