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Garden Security

Don’t let garden security be a thorn in your side this summer

What can you do make your garden more secure?

Your garden is your homes first line of defence against crime but sometimes it’s the contents of the garden that the thief finds most interesting.

If someone can access your garden easily without attracting attention it gives them more time to steal from you.

• Shrubs, hedges and large plants should be cut back to enable intruders to be seen and to increase surveillance.
   
• It is important to stop criminals gaining access to your rear garden. Walls and fencing should be of solid construction, at least 1.8 meters high with no climbing aids and in a good state of repair.
   
• Lockable gates, of the same height, should be sited on the front building line of your home.
   
• Install security lighting to illuminate your garden.
   
• Plant dense prickly bushes at the perimeter of your property as an attractive barrier, they can be especially useful when trying to prevent access over fences and walls or under windows. They are environmentally friendly and can attract wildlife to your garden. Train branches along the tops of fences and walls to make things more difficult for anyone attempting to climb over.
• Gravel on paths and driveways can alert you to someone approaching your property and is an effective intruder deterrent.

Sheds and Outbuildings

Ensure all outbuildings are in a good state of repair, capable of withstanding attack. If not remove all valuable property.

Fit two substantial security padlocks to your shed door at equal spacing.
Hasps staples and hinges should be secured with coach bolts and backing plates.

Windows are an easy target. At the very least opening windows should have solid locks fitted. Ideally internal grills fitted to steel plates should protect windows. Consider using net curtains to deter casual viewing.

Use an alarm – battery operated alarms may act as a deterrent. If you have a house alarm you could have it upgraded to include your shed or garage. If the garage is an integral part of the house, make sure the alarm conforms to BS 4737.

Make sure your insurance covers the shed and garage and all the equipment you store in there.

Ensure everything is post-coded so it can be identified if it is stolen. Most items can be post-coded through a variety of methods: marked with indelible ink, UV marker pen, etched, branded or stencilled. Note all model and serial numbers of any marked property.

Sheds are not designed for safe storage consider having a strong lockable box or cage inside your shed to keep your equipment in or chain valuable items to a strong anchor point.

Keep outbuildings secure at all times and never leave any items unattended in your garden – they may not be there when you return!

For further information and advice contact your local Police Crime Prevention Officer Mike Harvey on 01639 889178

Defensive Planting

The following list is not exhaustive, but should make a good starting point