Don’t bank on a gnome alone for garden security

Homeowners are spending more than £4 billion a year on their gardens – but failing to insure their growing investment is protected, warns Virgin Money.

Around one in seven gardens is targeted every year by thieves with more than 5,000 homeowners a week suffering thefts, it is estimated. And the losses are not just the odd garden gnome with reports of thieves getting away with ornamental stone lions and in some cases rare trees worth hundreds of pounds.

However keen gardeners are often failing to ensure that their insurance is good enough to cover their garden contents as well as their home contents, Virgin Money says.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money, said: “With summer here we’re all heading outdoors and for many of us the garden is just like another room in the house.

“But we’re often guilty of thinking that leaving valuable items outside in the garden means they are safe. Sadly with garden theft on the rise that is not the case and you need to have adequate insurance in place for everything from the garden gnomes to the barbecue and bikes.”

Virgin Money has drawn up a checklist of steps to take to make sure the green-fingered stay one step ahead of the light-fingered.

If thieves can get into your garden easily then they will – make sure fences, sheds and gates are in good repair

Security lighting can help and low energy dusk to dawn lighting is environmentally friendly
If you leave valuables outside make sure they are secured in position or filled with heavy gravel to make them hard to lift

Cut back overgrown areas so thieves cannot hide in them

Prickly plants will make it painful for them and gravel on paths and driveways will let you know they’re coming and put them off

Upgrade your home burglar alarm to cover the shed

Make sure your insurance covers contents kept in a shed

Ask your neighbours to keep an eye on your shed as well as your house and do the same for them

Virgin Money contents insurance includes cover of up to £1,000 for items in the garden, excluding bedding plants, trees, shrubs and grass.

Virgin Money Home Insurance also covers glass and mirrors, valuables up to the value of £1,500 for a single item or collection and replacement external locks if your keys are stolen. Freezer contents, home office equipment and download cover are just some of the other valuables that are covered by Virgin Money Home Insurance - uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/home-insurance

For more information on beating garden thieves go to crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/seasonal02.htm