Beat burglars with prickly boundaries

By tjustice

POLICE in Avon and Somerset have put together a leaflet telling people how to combat crime by doing up their gardens.

The constabulary is encouraging Bridgwater residents to take up gardening as gardens are often the first line of defence against crime as two-thirds of burglars gain entry to homes via the back of the property.

The summer months also see an increase in thefts from gardens and sheds as people bring out their garden furniture and equipment as the weather improves.

The local Crime and Disorder Partnership, in conjunction with the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, are providing local residents with "To Scratch a Thief" leaflets, which offer advice and crime-prevention tips for gardens, sheds and garages. It includes some very easy and inexpensive things people can do to add to their garden security.

Using defensive planting and prickly bushes to enhance the security of boundaries, around drainpipes or beneath ground floor windows, making forced entry more difficult and less attractive to would-be burglars, is a simple, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly crime-prevention favourite.

Garden sheds and ornaments are also vulnerable to attack and the leaflets give people the opportunity to read the advice on securing sheds, garages and gating.

Marking power tools with postcodes and house numbers is also effective. These details can then be placed on www.immobilise.com.

Immobilise is the world's largest free register of possession ownership details and is the largest database of stolen property. Immobilise can be used by members of the public and businesses to register their valued possessions or company assets.

Crime reduction officer Tony Alderman, from Taunton, said: "People can take very simple but effective crime reduction measures, which can have a dramatic effect on their property's overall security.

"Clever planting, padlocks on gates and sheds and motion sensor lights are inexpensive and effective. Garden tools are often used to assist the burglar breaking into a property – ladders are particularly helpful to thieves, for example, so keep them locked away."

For a To Scratch a Thief leaflet, call Lindsey Stone on 01823 363348.