Protect Your Patch

PROTECT YOUR PATCH SPRING IS HERE AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE UK WILL BE BUSY POTTERING AWAY GETTING THEIR GARDENS IN TIP-TOP CONDITION IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER. WITH EXPENSIVE PLANTS, ORNAMENTS, GARDEN FURNITURE AND TOOLS, THE VALUE OF YOUR GARDEN CAN EASILY RUN INTO THE THOUSANDS. WITH THE POSSIBLE THREAT OF DAMAGE AND THEFT IS YOUR PATCH PROPERLY PROTECTED? BOOZE AND BARBECUES AT THE FIRST SIGN OF SUNSHINE AND WARM WEATHER, WE BRITS CAN'T RESIST GETTING OUT THE BBQ AND HAVING A FEW DRINKS. WHILE BBQS ARE BRILLIANT, THEY CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR GARDEN AND YOUR PROPERTY PETROL NEVER USE PETROL TO LIGHT A BBQ! ONLY NEVER OPERATE A BBQ WHILE UNDER USE COAL AND THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL FIRELIGHTERS - APART FROM THE RISK OF SETTING SOMETHING ON FIRE, YOU COULD BURN YOURSELF OR SERVE SOME SEVERELY UNDERCOOKED MEAT IF YOU PREFER TO USE A DISPOSABLE BBQ MAKE SURE IT IS PLACED ON A HEAT-RESISTANT WORK NEVER, SURFACE AND IS COMPLETELY EVER LEAVE A EXTINGUISHED BEFORE BBQ UNATTENDED DISPOSAL WHILE IT'S LIT MAKE SURE YOUR BBQ IS WELL AWAY FROM ANYTHING FLAMMABLE SUCH AS SHEDS, FENCES, TREES AND SHRUBBERY GARDEN EQUIPMENT STOLEN LAST YEAR 42% OF THEFTS WERE FOR POWER TOOLS, SUCH AS ELECTRIC DRILLS, PLANERS AND SAWS 39% WERE FOR SIMPLE HAND TOOLS LIKE SPADES, SHOVELS, RAKES AND FORKS 19% WERE FOR ELECTRIC AND PETROL LAWN MOWERS, CHAINSAWS AND LADDERS SIX TIPS TO BEAT THE BURGLAR PUT AWAY ANY GARDEN TOOLS, BIKES AND TRAMPOLINES AS THEY WILL ONLY TEMPT THIEVES INTO YOUR GARDEN. LOCK YOUR SHED AT BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE DOOR, SO THAT IT CAN'T BE PRISED OPEN. YOUR INSURER MAY NOT PAY OUT IF IT IS NOT LOCKED. REPAIR ANY DAMAGED FENCES AND ALWAYS KEEP YOUR GATES CLOSED AND LOCKED. CONSIDER PLANTING PRICKLY SHRUBS OR PLANTS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF YOUR GARDEN TO MAKE LIFE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE BURGLAR. CHAIN LARGER ITEMS IN YOUR SHED TOGETHER, MAKING THEM MORE DIFFICULT TO STEAL LOCK UP AND/OR HIDE AWAY YOUR LADDERS AND WHEELY BINS SO THAT THIEVES DON'T USE THEM TO CLIMB INTO YOUR HOME FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. SHEDS, PATIOS, CONSERVATORIES, GARDEN WALLS, FENCES, HEDGES AND GATES WILL TYPICALLY FALL UNDER YOUR BUILDINGS INSURANCE BARBECUES, FURNITURE, PLANTS, ORNAMENTS, PATIO HEATERS AND EVEN BIRD TABLES AND GNOMES FALL UNDER YOUR CONTENTS INSURANCE THE AVERAGE VALUE SEEDS £1,500 OF A GARDEN IS ABOUT: COVER FOR YOUR GARDEN CAN VARY BETWEEN: £2,000 - £2,500 ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR INSURER EXACTLY WHAT LEVELS OF COVER YOU HAVE FOR YOUR GARDEN. YOUR GARDEN MAY NOT BE COVERED FOR SEVERE WEATHER DAMAGE. DETERMINED THIEVES MAY ALSO TRY TO STEAL YOUR LAWN, THIS MAY NOT BE COVERED EITHER. SOURCES: MoneySupermarket com WWW.AVIVA.CO.UK/MEDIA-CENTRE/STORY/16475/SUMMERTIME-STEALS-FOR-THIEVES EEEE