ARE YOUR GARDEN SHED AND GARAGE SECURE?
There are a number of things you can do in the garden, with little expense to reduce the opportunities for the thief. Fences or boundary walls should be constructed so that they are not easily climbed and kept in a good state of repair.
It is advisable to keep fencing to approximately a metre in height at the front of your house as this discourages criminal activity as perpetrators can be easily seen. For the same reason shrubs should be trimmed to no more than waist height and trees should have their branches lopped to a height of about 2.2 metres. Fences to the rear of the property should ideally be 1.8 metres high.
Trees and bushes can also be used as climbing aids to gain entry to property. The use of thorny shrubbery such as berberis or hawthorn can deter access to certain areas and are effective against walls and fences.
Restricting access to the rear of the property goes along way in deterring the thief. Fitting a good lockable gate can reduce the chance of shed theft and your home being burgled as statistics show that 75% of burglaries are committed via the rear of the property.
Never leave tools, ladders or garden furniture in the garden. Put them away or, if you can’t store them, secure them so they can’t be moved. It is also a good idea to secure garden ornaments so that they cannot be easily moved as they can also be used as climbing aids and weapons to attack your property. Property mark your tools, lawnmowers and other garden equipment. If you have security lighting ensure that it is “caged” so that it cannot be easily tampered with.
Garden sheds and locks up garages are broken into every year in the Sheffield area as they can be an easy target for the thief. These buildings are not designed for storing high value goods such as power tools, bicycles, fishing tackle or golf clubs and this is often reflected in the security. If you can break into them or gain entry easily so can the criminal. Householders often leave their garage or shed doors wide open advertising the contents and this therefore can be tempting to the opportunist thief.
Good quality locks and hinges should be used to secure your shed. All external fixings should be secured with non-returnable screws or carriage bolts, fills any remaining screw heads with hard setting glue. Criminals can have access to cordless tools. Items stored within your shed can be secured by running a steel cable through the equipment and then securing the cable to the framework of the shed with a close shackled padlock.
If your shed has a window, fit a curtain or blinds to deter prying eyes and fit an internal weld mesh screen.
Mark your property by painting, engraving, etching or using an ultraviolet pen with your house number and postcode. The more obvious the marking the more difficult it is for a thief to sell the property on. If you have an existing intruder alarm system you may be able to incorporate the shed or lock up garage within that system. There are also inexpensive shed alarms available on the market. Remember to secure your shed and lock up garages at all times.
South Yorkshire Police Crime Reduction have a limited number of SHED BARS which provide a visible deterrent and secures both the hinge side of the shed door as well as the opening side. We are able to offer the SHED BAR to local people at a subsidised rate of £30.00. R.R.P and selling price from the manufacturers is £53.80.
Shed bars can be purchased by contacting the Ecclesfield Enquiries desk on Sheffield 0114 2964614.
For vehicle protection we also have the full steering wheel Disklok at a discount price of £45.00 normal R.R.P £79.99 and can be purchased by contacting Crime Reduction Officer Dene Tinker on Sheffield 0114 2964774
For further advice or information contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Team
If you have any information which you think may be useful to the police, you can contact 0114 2202020 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.