How and why to secure your garden

When it comes to home security, the garden is often an area that gets overlooked but there has been a worrying rise in garden theft in recent years with the ONS revealing that over 700,000 thefts from gardens and outhouses took place in 2016 alone. Because our gardens are not just our gardens are they?

They are our sheds, our summer houses, and our greenhouses, all of which might contain valuable tools, equipment, and sentimental items that we don’t want falling into the hands of thieves. So, while securing the home is very important, you really shouldn’t be neglecting your garden. But what can you do to secure your garden from thieves?

Light them up – Motion-sensor lights are not only convenient for when we need to trot out in the middle of the night to let the dog out or sort the bins, they are also great at illuminating and scaring away potential burglars.

Security cameras – CCTV security cameras are relatively inexpensive and can be equipped with night vision.

If you think one of your outbuildings might be vulnerable to a break-in, consider  installing a camera above the entrance and it will not only scare thieves away but will catch them in the act if they decide to ‘be brave’.

Secure the boundaries – Most ‘professional’ thieves will have learned how to scale typical garden fencing, but few will be able to manoeuvre a large picket fence with sharp pointed ends.

Alternatively, get the landscaper in and plant some tall trees or thorny hedges at the rear of your garden – the taller and more difficult to climb, the better. You can also make fences harder to climb over by attaching trellis to the top. Get the boundaries sorted and securing your garden should be a simple task.

Lock away valuables – We’re not only talking about jewellery and electronics when we refer to valuables. Your garden shed might be stocked with thousands of pounds worth of gardening equipment or materials you use for your hobby. Make sure this equipment is secured safely.

Hideaway – Cover your garden furniture or bring it inside to dissuade chancers from having a crack at it and make sure all planters and statues are cemented to the floor or chained to a wall if you’re worried about losing them. Garden furniture that can’t be moved inside, meanwhile, should be bolted to the floor.

Treat your shed like your home – Shed security is important. If you have a shed or summer house in your garden then it should be secured to the same standard as your home.

Make sure they are locked securely and that any windows also have locks, as around 23% of burglars enter a property through a window and that includes outbuildings.

Furry friend – If you have a dog then you will need to let it into the garden sporadically to ‘do its business’ and let off steam.

This can be a valuable moment for the dog to get to know the garden and develop an attachment to it – an attachment it will be more than willing to defend!

Generally speaking, garden security is all about common sense, but there are a number of other little tips you might want to acknowledge if you really want to avoid a burglar in your backyard.

• Tidy up your garden before you head inside for the night.
• Get to know your neighbours, particularly one you might share garden space with.
• Keep all garden gates padlocked.
• Gravel pathways where possible as it’s much harder for burglars to sneak quietly on.
• Mark your most valuable outdoor possessions with your postcode using a UV pen.
• NEVER leave a ladder in your garden as burglars could use this to their advantage.