Protect your garden sheds, say police

3:08pm Saturday 7th June 2008

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Merseyside Police in Wirral are asking residents to take extra care this summer to protect their garden sheds and garages from opportunist thieves.

Power tools, hand tools, plant containers, sports equipment, bicycles and toys are among the items often targeted by thieves, who find insecure gardening equipment easy pickings.

Neighbourhood Inspector Andy McKeown said: "Many people forget to secure their garden, shed or garage.

"As most burglary is opportunistic, if a burglar spots a chance to steal something and get away with it, they will.

"By following simple precautions you can make your property secure and prevent yourself from becoming victim to this type of crime."

Shed owners should security mark their valuable items and install security lights.

Bikes should be locked to something heavy eg. a workbench.

Never leave a garage or garden shed unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house - a thief could get in and work on the inner door in privacy.

Ensure garage and shed doors are fitted with a strong padlock and ensure they are solid enough not to be kicked in.

Lock ladders inside the garage or shed to stop a thief using them to reach inaccessible windows. If there is no room inside, chain or padlock them horizontally to a sturdy bracket on an outside wall.

A thorny hedge along the boundary can work as a deterrent. But make sure that the front of the house is still visible to passers by so a burglar cannot work unseen.

For further information and crime prevention advice call into your local police station and speak to your crime prevention officer.