Check your garden is protected against theft

Although the British summertime is a pleasant period for green fingered people and garden lovers, it is also a time that can increase the risk of theft from outside your actual house – from your back garden.

Many people are looking forward to spending time sprucing up their gardens, adding plants, and enjoying barbeques with families, and the popularity of garden programmes on television has seen more and more people invest in their gardens, often spending huge amounts of money on their pride and joy.

However, as summertime approaches insurers are warning consumers to check that they have adequate cover to protect the items on their gardens. Summertime thieves will target everything from expensive plants and shrubs to barbeques, lawnmowers, decorative ornaments, furniture, tools, and just about anything else that could be of value in your garden. And without adequate cover this could mean financial losses as well as a ruined garden.

According to the Halifax the average claim for garden based theft last year was around £400. Claims tripled between March and August last year according to the Halifax, and there were total claims of around £1 million last year relating to garden based theft. Some of the items may be covered under the regular home insurance cover, but many do not cover plants and therefore additional cover may be required.

Consumers should contact their home insurance providers to see what sort of garden items and equipment are already covered, and can then arrange additional cover if required. Cover on garden items can vary from one insurance provider to another, and terms and conditions for making a claim can also vary, so this is something else that consumers will need to check.

Tom Smith
7th June 2007

Tags: garden, claim, home, plants, theft, damage, Insurance