Lack of storage space may fuel garden thefts

Now that summer weather has arrived, the garden will once again become an extension of people's homes but the conversion of traditional storage spaces - such as the garage and the loft - is leading to more belongings being left unsecured in the garden and personal possessions from the home being stored in outbuildings, such as sheds, due to a lack of indoor space, according to research by esure Home Insurance.

More than one in ten (11 per cent) homeowners will be spending over £500 on their gardens this year - such as tools, equipment, ornaments and furniture - yet many homeowners are running out of space to keep their garden possessions secure and aren't protecting their property with reasonable care. With almost 650,0000 households having fallen victim to garden theft in the last 12 months, it's crucial to have a secure garden and ensure anything of value is locked away when not in use.

According to the research, nine in ten (93 per cent) homeowners regularly leave items out in the garden overnight, with jet washers topping the list, followed by children's toys and garden tools. A lack of storage space is the key reason given by homeowners for not locking away their belongings and allowing their garden to be a treasure trove for opportunistic thieves:

My shed, garage or outbuilding is full (44 per cent)
I don't have any storage available in my house (31 per cent)
I am lacking storage space as a result of converting my loft or garage (15 per cent)

Worryingly, a third of homeowners (30 per cent) are storing non-garden related items, which would usually be found within the home, in less secure outbuildings such as the shed due to this lack of space. It is therefore no surprise that one in seven (14 per cent) homeowners value their shed contents at over £1500. Alarmingly however, of the two thirds (69 per cent) of households with a shed, one in ten (9 per cent) never lock it.

A combined lack of storage space and a lack of motivation to improve basic garden security may be to blame for many garden thefts in the UK. The survey highlighted that 69% of homeowners have never thought about improving the security of their gardens and more of a concern, one in ten have considered it yet not acted upon it. A basic way to help deter intruders is to fit sensor lighting, yet over half of households (52 per cent) don't have any and even one in ten that do, don't even switch them on.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure Home Insurance, said: "The trend towards converting useful storage space into valuable living space and the nation's obsession with hoarding clutter is putting pressure on garden storage and may cause a surge in garden theft as belongings are left unsecured and vulnerable.

"Even household items are now being stored outdoors, blurring the distinction between home contents and outbuilding and garden contents. Homeowners should check the limits of their insurance policies because some are relatively low and in the event of an ‘outdoor' theft not everything may be covered if your shed is bulging with valuables."

Regional breakdown

The Welsh have had the most garden thefts in the last 12 months (5 per cent). Midlanders plan to spend the most on their gardens this year - at £178 per household. The Scots appear to have the least space and are storing the most non-garden related items in their sheds and outbuildings rather than in the house (41 per cent). Sheds in the South East of England are the biggest treasure troves containing £577 worth of belongings.