Secure your shed this spring
As spring begins in a month’s time, now is the time to start securing your shed, according to Warwickshire County Council’s Community Safety Team.
For many, a shed provides a natural solution to the family’s storage problems, with ever-more expensive items from lawnmowers to power tools and fishing equipment sometimes being kept inside. However for criminals it poses an easy target with thefts traditionally increasing during the warmer and lighter months.
So as part of the ‘Protect Yourself Campaign’ – which is focussing on acquisitive crime, or spur-of-the-moment crimes like robbery, burglary and vehicle crime – the Community Safety Team has some simple tips that could help reduce the chance of becoming a victim:
* Check your shed is in a good condition and hasn’t been damaged by the cold winter weather, which could help a thief gain access
* Strengthen your shed doors and surrounding frame and use coach bolts on outside hinges. Strong padbars and close shackle padlocks would also help
* Replace any cracked glass to ensure windows are secure – you could use Perspex or polycarbonate sheeting. Install locks on opening windows and a grille or wire mesh to deter thieves
* Invest in braided steel cables to lock your expensive items in place (much like bike locks)
* Use an alarm in your shed – this could be battery operated or linked to one installed on your house
* Mark your property with crime prevention devices such as ‘Smart Water’.
Cllr Richard Hobbs, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, urges homeowners to take heed of this advice to avoid their property being stolen.
He added: “People often forget about what they’ve stored in their shed, so it’s worth taking a look and thinking about arrangements to protect them.
“Although the chance of becoming a victim of crime in Warwickshire is low, installing a few simple security measures can further reduce the risk and make the county an even safer place to live.”
For further information on garden-related crime visit http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk or for community safety information visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/communitysafety.