If you’re looking at investing in new gardening equipment this summer, such as it is, make sure that whenever possible, the equipment is stored securely inside the house. Out buildings such as sheds or ‘polytunnels’ are easy targets for thieves
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The occurrence of tool theft is becoming a lot more common now; every week, there’s a new story featuring in local news detailing the latest tool theft. It can range to someone breaking into a van for power tools, to several people climbing over a fence and breaking into a shed for gardening tools – it’s not safe to leave anything outside at present.
In June 2012 news uncovered a group of thieves stealing over £500 pounds worth of gardening equipment from a small family run business in Southend in the UK.
Lawn on Order, a garden maintenance company was the latest to get hit by thieves when Rick Davis woke up to find his polytunnel slashed open and all of his tools stolen. Some of the most valuable tools that were taken during the night were his hedge trimmer and chainsaw which combined came close to £500 alone. Despite capturing images of the suspects on his CCTV camera, nobody has come forward with any further information.
In these down turned economic times, more and more people are looking for easy ways of attaining extra cash, no matter what action it calls for. Sadly, theft is one of these actions that can provide quick, easy cash. A lot of gardeners are happy to leave their tools in a garden shed or polytunnel, thus I recommend bringing anything of value inside overnight.
While it is reckoned that lawnmowers and other equipment is less susceptible to being stolen, from what I, personally, have seen as regards to thefts from allotments where everything seems to get stolen, from hand tools such as spades, to wheelbarrows and power equipment the best place for your tools, if they are expensive, is at home, and even some spades can be quite pricy. I know mine are.
While having a secure shed with a good locking mechanism is strongly advised it still does not guarantee that a break in by someone after your tools is not going to happen and even your garage might not be a safe place.
Although it may seem like a lot of hassle to constantly move all of your gardening equipment around, it’s much better than having to replace hundreds of pounds worth of tools.
Also do not follow the advise given by the police in a number of areas of a couple of years back of leaving your sheds unlocked so that the thieves would not cause damage by breaking in. If you do that any insurance is invalid and any thief can, eventually, also not be done for breaking in but just for theft.
Do not leave valuable tools on display or within easy access of criminals. The harder it is to get to, the less likely they are to try – keep tools safe and bring them indoors.
© 2012
