Lots of valuable gear gets put into our sheds, but these are often very insecure.  Have a think about how you can protect your belongings and consider the following points:

• Begin by thinking “If I lost my keys, how would I get into my shed?”  This is always a good starting point.
• Check the general fabric of your shed.  Are bits of it dropping off?  Could a thief take advantage of this?  And what about the locks?  Are they decent ones or “cheap and nasty ones” that a child of five could break open?
• Always make sure you’ve got decent locks.  Another good idea is to ensure that outside door hinges should be secured with coach bolts.  That way, no-one can unscrew the hinges.
• What about the windows? Are the frames up to standard or are they rotting away?  Consider putting a grille inside your windows or fastening a clear Perspex sheet behind it.  You could even put up a bit of net curtain to stop people being able to see what you have inside.  That way your shed doesn’t become a shop window to a potential thief.
• Remember to chain up your valuable items inside the shed.  For example, if you chain all your bikes together through the frames, this makes things difficult for a thief!  They’re opportunists and they want to be away are quick as possible!
• Postcode your property, preferably visibly with paint or a marker pen.  Tools all look the same unless they’re individually marked.
• Photograph all valuable items.  This includes garden ornaments and urns, particularly if they are unique.
• Consider a shed alarm.  They’re inexpensive, incredibly loud and draw attention to your shed if anyone’s tampering with it.
• And always remember to put everything away and to lock up your shed on a night!

We can all deter the thief by making things as difficult as possible for them.  The same is true with the outside of your home in summer.  Here are a few general hints that are worth bearing in mind:

1. Ensure that your garden fences and walls are in a good state of repair.
2. Consider installing outside lighting.  Low energy dusk to dawn lights are very good.
3. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed so that potential thieves can’t use them to hide behind on your property.
4. Consider using prickly plants such as berberis in appropriate places to act as a physical barrier.
5. When you’re out in your garden, ensure that your house is secure.  Sneak in burglars can take advantage otherwise.

Finally, please report suspicious people or vehicles to the police on 0845 6060222 (999 in an emergency if a crime is occurring).  You could prevent a crime and a great deal of heartache to someone.

When the sun is out and free time is available it is great to be able to potter around in the garden and get out into the fresh air.  Particularly during summer there are security issues to consider.

When working in the garden, leaving windows or doors wide open and possibly out of sight of them, perhaps with a loud lawn mower or power tools going, it is easy for a sneak thief to take advantage of the situation and go inside your home and steal things.

The same applies with garages and sheds.  It is common to open these up to take out the tools that are needed, but how often are the doors left wide open, leaving everything inside on display to passers by.  It is then easy for someone to take advantage of this situation to steal bikes, power tools or garden equipment.

Then there’s the car to consider.  On a hot day, there might be a temptation to leave it parked up on the drive with its windows open to allow fresh air to circulate.  If it’s left unattended it is easy for someone to take items from it or even to steal it.

In all three of the circumstances above there’s the potential to lose valuable property, have your house burgled or lose your car.

Please remember to help the police to help you.  The kinds of thefts described are committed by opportunists who could be wandering around the neighbourhood looking take advantage of people who leave their property insecure.

If you spot a suspicious person or vehicle in your street, left the police know by ringing on 0845 6060222 (or 999 if there’s a crime in progress).  If you can safely do so, get registration numbers or note the description of the person seen and what they are doing.