NFU Mutual warns of garden theft

A recent poll by rural insurer NFU Mutual has revealed that 33% of respondents have been the victim of garden theft. With the value of a garden's contents now potentially being thousands of pounds, the insurer is warning people to check their level of garden cover.

Laura Wood at NFU Mutual comments, "The value of the rural garden is increasing with people spending more on state of the art barbecues, expensive garden furniture, tools and sometimes valuable statues. Although people review their home security, they often forget about sheds, stores and gardens. Many home insurance policies will cover garden thefts but if you have some particularly valuable items then you should probably specify them on your policy."

Here's what you can do to protect your garden antiques and outdoor furniture from 'green-fingered' thieves:

Be aware of the limits of your home and contents policy and ensure you have adequate coverage for items which exceed that limit.

Wherever possible, secure items of value to an immovable object, or concrete them in position.

Take photographs of valuable garden statues and tools and data-tag or mark the item with your postcode, to aid recovery in the event of a theft. An approved identification kit can also deter thieves - especially when you use window stickers which warn that your possessions are marked.

Consider planting prickly or inhospitable plants and bushes around the garden statues and ornaments. In this way you can still achieve an attractive backdrop and make the thief's job more difficult at the same time!

Fit good locks to garden gates and ensure you use them!

Fit motion sensitive security lights to areas where items of value are located.

Wherever possible, lock items away in a well-secured garage or garden shed. Never leave a garage or shed unlocked - especially if it provides access to your property.

Consider joining or setting-up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your area - they really do help reduce crime.

Wood continues, "You can check whether your insurance is of the right value by using the NFU Mutual home insurance contents calculator. Not only can you check the items you have around the home, but you can also make sure that you have enough cover for the garden.

"NFU Mutual's Premier Home Insurance currently covers you for contents in the open, in outbuildings and garages and for thefts from outbuildings. However, from September we will also be revising our policy to cover plants in the garden up to the value of £2500 and increasing our cover for contents in the open from £1500 to £2500."