Although many people take steps to protect their homes and the property inside them, they leave valuable equipment in gardens and unsecured sheds, providing easy pickings for opportunist thieves.

Around 1,500 shed burglaries take place every year within West Mercia, which highlights the importance of storing valuable items securely.

Local Policing officers in Market Drayton attended the town’s weekly street market last week, giving security advice and leaflets out from a stall to shoppers.

“There are several things people can do to improve the security of their gardens, sheds and allotments and make it much more difficult for thieves to get their hands on your things,” said Police Constable Tim Weaver, Crime Reduction Manager for Shropshire.

“Many people leave valuable equipment in gardens and unlocked sheds, providing easy pickings for thieves.

“Although we live in a low crime area, thefts and burglaries do happen and we should all ensure we take steps to protect ourselves and our homes.”

Here are some ‘top tips’ from police for a more secure garden or allotment.

Shed security:
– Most garden sheds are not designed for secure storage but if you have nowhere else to store your valuables, there are a number of measures you can take to make theft more difficult for burglars:
– Keep your shed in good condition.
– Fit a close-shackle padlock to the door. Fittings should be bolted through the door and any screws concealed.
– Fit grilles or mesh to the windows.
– Invest in an alarm.
– Large items stored in the shed should be chained together – it is more difficult for a thief to carry away a lot of large heavy items all at once.
– All items stored in a shed should be property marked and registered on Immobilise, the national property marking website.

Defensive planting:
– Defensive planting (prickly plants) is nature’s own way of deterring burglars and increasing the security of your home and garden.
– It is not meant to replace, but to complement other security measures.
– Defensive planting can be used to protect all areas of your garden and property, e.g. perimeters, windows and drainpipes.
– Ask for advice about defensive planting at your local garden centre.

Boundaries and lighting:
– Boundary fences, gates and walls should be kept in good repair as they can prevent thieves. from getting to the back and sides of a property.
– Good garden lighting will illuminate your garden, putting off potential thieves.

Security of tools and ladders:
– Garden tools and ladders should not be left lying around in gardens and allotments.
– Unsecured tools and ladders can be used to break into a property.
– Garden equipment should be property marked.

For more garden, shed and allotment security advice, contact your local policing team on 0300 333 3000.

Alternatively, visit the force website at www.westmercia.police.uk, where you can also download a copy of the force’s ‘Stop – all valuables have been removed’ poster to display on your shed. Make sure you do remove any valuables first.