When the garden gets fenced

When the garden gets fenced

Brits will spend around £4bn this year kitting out their gardens with the latest in plants, pots, state-of-the art furniture and lighting.

But beware - May and June are the most common months for garden robbery.

One Bristol household had its entire garden stolen. Thieves uprooted trees and shrubbery, chiselled out cemented-in ornaments, and carted off a pond complete with dozens of carp and goldfish. Elsewhere, thieves steal-to-order, targeting rare plants or £1,000 lawnmowers. Even York stone or slate - sometimes costing more than £60 a sqare metre - is vulnerable.

"There is a one-in-10 chance of something being stolen from your garden," says Halifax, which adds that unchained bikes are the item most frequently stolen from Britain's back yards.

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Most home insurance policies include cover for items lost or damaged in the garden, up to a maximum of about £2,500, at no extra cost. But the policies do not automatically cover bikes, and many have individual item limits of £1,000. Insurers will also refuse to pay out if the home is left unattended and unoccupied for more than 30 days.

Fences, walls and hedges come under the buildings part of a household policy, but are not generally covered for flood or storm damage.

What should households do to protect their gardens? Insurers offer a number of tips;

· Lock items away overnight in a secure garage or shed.

· Fit a security light to illuminate late-night theft.

· Plant prickly bushes and plants around the border of the property.

· Remove keys from ride-on mowers.

· If you have particularly valuable items, consider fitting an alarm.

What goes

The top 10 items stolen from gardens

1 Bikes

2 Strimmers and lawnmowers

3 Patio/ garden furniture

4 Gnomes

5 Garden tools

6 Potted plants

7 Children's activity toys

8 Gas heaters

9 Garden lights

10 Stone/paving slabs

Source: Halifax General Insurance

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