8:40am Tuesday 5th August 2008
GARDENERS are being advised by police to ensure their tools are stored safely and securely under lock and key.
The warning comes as police seek information following the theft of gardening equipment from a shed in the Hollywood area.
The incident happened between 10pm on Tuesday, July 29, and 4.45pm on Wednesday, July 30, at an address in Dark Lane, Hollywood.
Offenders broke into the shed and stole a JCB lawn mower and strimmer worth about £500 and caused about £200 damage.
Around 1,000 shed burglaries take place every year across West Mercia, so it is important that people take the time to ensure their valuables are stored securely.
Garden security is part of the force's Safe & Secure campaign, which provides people with advice about how they can make their homes, gardens and cars more secure.
The force has produced a crime prevention advice leaflet, which gives handy tips on how people can make their gardens and sheds more secure and prevent burglars from breaking in.
The Tips to Nip Garden Crime in the Bud' leaflet is available to download from the force website www.westmercia.police.uk and is also available from police stations in the West Mercia area and from some garden centres.
Redditch crime risk manager, PC Eddie Mills, said: "Thefts from garden sheds are all too frequent. They are usually out of sight and relatively insecure and thieves know they are likely to contain expensive tools, equipment and other property.
"While many people take steps to protect their homes and the property inside them, they often leave valuable equipment such as power tools, mowers, garden tools and bikes in unsecured sheds or in sheds that are not strong or secure enough to protect the items from thieves.
"Often, burglars will use tools they find in your shed, or lying around your garden to force their way into your home, so by improving your garden security you will be protecting your home against burglary."
Here are West Mercia Constabulary's top tips on how to make a garden more secure: *** Gates, fences and walls should be kept in good repair to stop intruders getting in.
*** Grow defensive planting' (prickly plants, bushes and shrubs) close to vulnerable areas such as windows, fences, boundary walls and drainpipes.
*** Most garden sheds are not designed for secure storage and should not be used to store expensive equipment such as garden tools, mowers, mountain bikes and power tools. If you have nowhere else to store valuable equipment, take measures to secure your shed by, for example, using a closed shackle padlock or investing in an alarm.
*** Don't leave ladders and tools lying around in your garden - these could be used to break into your home.
*** Mark your garden tools and equipment visibly and permanently if possible with your house number and postcode, or alternatively with a UV pen or SmartWater. Make a note of the serial numbers on your equipment and consider taking photographs of the items stored in your shed so you have a record in case your shed is burgled.
*** Check your household insurance policy carefully to ensure it covers garden and shed equipment and whether any minimum security standards apply.
For more details on keeping your garden secure, please visit West Mercia Constabulary's website www.westmercia.police.uk, which also provides crime prevention advice for your home and vehicle.
Anyone with information regarding the shed theft should call Bromsgrove police on 08457 444 888 or Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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