Keep your garden safe
As winter draws to a close and evenings become lighter, there are more than 10% more thefts from our gardens than in the dark nights of January.
Norwich Union says that, by the time the clocks change at the end of March, thefts will increase by more than 25%.
The most commonly stolen items include lawnmowers, cycles, garden tools and children’s toys.
However, it is possible to protect your garden from green-fingered thieves with a garden insurance policy.
1. Start by checking your home insurance policy as most do include some form of cover for gardens. However, there are often strict limits on amounts paid out and some don’t cover plants or shrubs.
2. Before you extend your cover, create an inventory of all your valuable garden items, keep all your receipts and take photographs or mark your items. This will help to prove the value of your losses should you need to claim.
3. Adequate security is key because if you do get burgled your insurer is unlikely to pay up if they think you’ve been negligent. All expensive tools, furniture and equipment should be safely put away and out of sight, and all outbuildings and garden gates must be securely locked when not in use.
4. You can also secure garden furniture with ground anchors.
5. Fitting motion-sensitive security lights to areas where items of value are located will not only help you feel safer, but it will act as a deterrent to any potential burglars and also help your case should you have to claim.
