Make Sure You Lock Your Garden Sheds!

• May 16, 2018|
• News|
• Darren Clarke

Now that the weather is improving day by day, you should make sure that you put your belongings away at the end of each day and that they’re locked away securely in your shed… or you could find yourself the victim of a crime.

And with new research from M&S Bank showing that the contents in the typical garden shed is worth an average of £550, it’s certainly a good idea to ensure that you do lock your shed and don’t tempt fate where burglary is concerned.

However, it seems that some of us out there are a bit cavalier when it comes to looking after our personal property, with the study also revealing that 33 per cent of people who do have a garden shed admit that they leave it unlocked.

Head of products with the company Paul Stokes commented on the findings, saying: “People often invest significant time and money into their garden, and the value of items, whether in the shed or in the garden itself, can quickly mount up.

“That’s why it’s surprising that a significant proportion of homeowners still don’t know whether they have adequate cover for theft or damage to both the shed and garden, should the worst happen. As we head into spring, we would urge households to review what measures they may need to secure their garden, as well as what is included within their policy, to ensure they are covered.”

To properly secure your garden, fit locks to the windows on your shed and ensure that they’re kept shut. Also put a good strong padlock on the door of the shed and your garden gates if you have any. Always lock belongings in your shed overnight as if you leave them in the garden it’s possible that they won’t be covered if stolen.

You should also extend these ideas to your actual home as well as your garden shed, so do make sure that the uPVC windows at your Worsley home are properly secured as well. Windows make very easy entry points for prospective burglars because it’s quieter to get in that way than through the front or back door.

Installing reinforced glass is a great way of making your windows more secure, as burglars will have to strike the same spot repeatedly and make a lot of noise in the process, drawing lots of attention to themselves… which no burglar is ever keen to do.

Window alarms are a good investment as well, while you could always consider installing window bars on the exterior of the property if you’re really worried about being targeted by thieves – but, even though you can get very decorative bars these days, a lot of homeowners do think that they make an unattractive addition to a property.

Security window film can also be applied to existing glass, able to withstand a certain amount of impact and helping to slow down and deter intruders.