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Spring is here and it’s time to launch our annual crime prevention campaign to help residents make homes, gardens and outbuildings more secure.
As the warmer weather starts to roll in, people will be spending more time outdoors using gardening and leisure equipment. Burglars are also out and about looking out for valuable things to steal, like tools, bicycles and other expensive items left out or stored in outbuildings that have little or no security.
More than 40 shed and outbuilding burglaries occurred around the county during March, with Dacorum (nine), Watford (seven) and North Herts (six) having the highest number of offences.
Sergeant Nicolas Achilleos, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Prevention First team said: “Burglaries and thefts from gardens often increase at this time of year, as the temperatures rise. People tend to buy new garden equipment, start DIY projects or splash out on barbecues etc, meaning there’s a lot of valuable stuff in gardens and sheds. We are recommending that everyone takes some basic security measures to make sure their gardens and outbuildings are secure. Leaving tools and gardening equipment lying around in your garden can attract thieves, as they are often valuable or could also be used to break into your home.
“Make sure any tools that could assist a burglar, like ladders, trowels, hammers etc, are locked away and make sure outbuildings are as secure as possible, with strong locks or even an alarmed padlock. Dusk till dawn security lights and planting defensive plants like roses along your borders, and keeping fences in good condition, will make your home even safer. Remember to close windows and lock doors when you are finished outside and before going to bed, even when the weather gets warmer.”
Twelve tips to make your garden and outbuildings more secure:
For more detailed security advice, please visit our crime prevention pages.