Garden Security Advice

Burglary of garden sheds and theft of garden equipment is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country. Your garden furniture and tools are very saleable items so you must make it as difficult as possible for any would be thief to get to your property.

Gardens are often unattended, have easy access, are concealed from public view and have many escape routes -and these are the sort of places thieves operate.

Garden security is split into the following sections:

Walls & Fences	Ornaments
Lights	Plants, Shrubs & Trees
Machinery	Sheds, Garages & Storage

Your first line of defence against burglars are your perimeter walls and fences. To ensure walls and fences have the maximum effect, follow this advice:

• Ensure that all perimeter fences and walls are in good condition, and cannot be easily pushed over.
• If they are damaged, repair it as soon as possible, even if it is just a temporary measure.
• Don't leave things next to them that could help people climb over., such as ladders or benches.
• Put rubbery spikes across the top to increase the difficulty of climbing over. these are usually available from good hardware shops (they are also used to stop cats getting in your garden.
• Fit sturdy, secure locks to gates and doors and ALWAYS USE THEM. Which is worse, spending a few extra seconds unlocking a side gate or a few days sorting out insurance claims and filing police reports if you get robbed.
• If you don't want a fence or wall, consider growing plants at the edge that will deter thieves. See the Plants, Shrubs & Trees section.

Gardens are often dark, and thieves can hide easily and steal what they want. Consider removing this factor by doing the following:

• Fit exterior lights that have light sensors or an infra-red sensor that switches the light on for a short time when it detects something in its range - sensors can be bought separately to convert an existing outdoor light into a security one.
• Illuminate dark areas of your garden where possible.
• Keeping hedges, shrubs and large plants cut back - screens for thieves to work behind should be avoided.

Like any other machinery, garden machines such as lawn mowers and strimmers, are very attractive to thieves. Try to follow the same rules as for any other machinery like a bicycle or car:

• Postcode all machinery.
• Lock all machinery in a shed of storage box. Lock the item to the shed itself as well if possible.
• Never leave equipment unattended, even for a minute - remember it only takes a second for an opportunist to steal.
• Keep a note of all machinery including any serial numbers etc.
• When using machinery such as lawnmowers and strimmers, you will find it hard to hear anything else. Sneak thieves will be able to hear you doing this and also when you STOP, giving them the ideal opportunity to steal from you. Make sure that your home and belongings are locked and secure while you are in the garden.

In Britain we spend millions each year making our gardens look nice for us to sit in and enjoy the little sun we get! Unfortunately, this means that garden ornament theft has become a lucrative crime. Try to follow these tips for your garden ornaments:

• Take pictures and make notes of all your ornaments, including any scratches or defects in stone.
• Wherever possible, secure ornaments to something. Birdbaths, sundials and other large, freestanding items, can be secured onto a metal pole concreted into the ground.
• Most ornaments are stolen at night, so consider bringing them into the house or locking them in the shed at night. Also consider fitting sensor lights outside.

There are many plants on the market that cost substantial amounts of money. Trees are a typical example of this. A six-seven foot tree can be anything upwards of £40, so a row of freshly planted trees, which can be easily pulled up, is a very attractive item to steal. Plants are very hard to secure until they are well rooted. A good light, with added sensors is a good deterrent. Another attractive item for thieves are hanging baskets and pots. Ready planted hanging baskets can cost upwards of £50 each. Last year, over 50 hanging baskets were stolen by a thief in Wiltshire and sold at car boot sales. Try to lock your baskets to the bracket or the wall and use sensor lights.

Plants can also play a large part in deterring criminals in the first place. Thorns, large branches and thick growth all help deter criminals. Placing them next to a fence or wall or next to a window or drain pipe make it harder for thieves to gain access and also look attractive. Plants are always best used to compliment existing traditional security methods and not replace them. Here are a few suggestions of plants that could help your security:

• Berberis Julianae - Prickly everygreen shrub with shiny dark leaves. Yellow flowers in spring. Grows 1.2–1.8m tall.
• Berberis Ottawensis Superba - Use as a hedge or individual shrub. Deciduous barbed plant with beautiful purple foliage. Yellow flowers in Spring. Reaches 1.5–1.8m tall, allow two plants per metre.
• Berberis Stenophylla - Use as hedge or shrub. Graceful evergreen with long arching prickly branches, masses of yellow flowers in Spring. Grows 1.8–2.5m tall, allow two plants per metre.
• Climbing and Rambling Roses - Useful to give added protection to walls and fences. Wide selection. Heights vary from 2.7m.
• Crataegus Monogyna - Common Hawthorn. Forms an impenetrable thorny hedge. Fast growing, wonderful sight in May and June with fragrant white flowers. Red haws in August. Plant in staggered row 4 per metre. Prune to required height.
• Hippophae Rhamnoides - Sea Buckthorn grows in any soil and is wind resistant with silver foliage and excellent thorns. This large shrub provides superb cover. Plant in groups of three to obtain berries.
• Ilex - Holly. Evergreen shrubs for hedging or individual shrub. Green or variegated available. Plant in sun or shade. Females produce berries when males present.
• Mahonia Bealei Winter Sun - Prickly evergreen shrub with fragrant yellow flowers in Winter and Spring. Grows 1.2–1.8m tall. Suitable for shade.
• Pyracantha - Large evergreen shrub suitable for wall training or hedge. White flowers May – June followed by red, orange of yellow berries in Autumn. Thorny branches. Grows 2-4m tall.
• Rosa Blanc Double de Coubert - White - Fragrant Old Fashioned Rose – densely prickly for hedges or individual shrubs up to 2m high.
• Rosa Rugosa Rubra - Crimson - Fragrant old fashioned rose – densely prickly for hedges or individual shrubs. Grows up to 2m tall. Red, white or purple flows followed by hips in Autumn.
• Ulex Europaeus - Common Gorse, viciously spiny. Yellow flowers April – May. Grows 1.2–1.8 m tall. Plan in full sun.

Sheds, garages and garden storage boxes not only contains plenty for a thief to steal but also tools they could use to get into a house. Ladders should be locked to the wall or floor within the shed/garage and all tools should be kept in a locked tool box and kept out of sight. Always insure that you lock your shed, garage and storage, especially if they have a connecting door into the house. Some standard locks fitted to up and over garage doors are easily overcome. A padlock with a hasp and staple fitted on each side is effective. Double garage doors with a rim latch should be supplemented with a mortice lock. There are also special locks available for up and over garage doors.