Insurance News Archive
UK leaves gardens unguarded
Britain's property owners are increasingly leaving themselves vulnerable to theft in the garden.
With the hot weather and people spending more time in their gardens, equipment is more likely to left in places that are not secure.
Items that seem most popular with thieves are those that can easily to transported or loaded into the back of a van, such as lawnmowers, rotavators, and power washers.
Larger decorative items such as statues, pots and urns are also often taken.
Smaller pieces of equipment, like spades or rakes, should also be put away as they can be used by burglars to help them break into a home.
David Newman, director of marketing at Co-operative Insurance, which issued the warning, said: "Nowadays people are spending increasing sums of money on their gardens, in particular when the sun is shining. However, many people fail to appreciate the total value of their garden items and, more importantly, how to safeguard them.
"Garden valuables can be protected through your home insurance, but it is important to pay special attention to your policy and check exactly what is covered. Given the amount of time and money we now spend looking after our gardens, it should only be expected that we devote the same care and attention to the outside as well as the inside of our homes."
10 Aug 2006
