Date: 12 November 2009
Gardien, the UK's top garden security experts, are warning householders across the country to be on their guard against petty thieves who are targetting garden pots and planters to make easy cash by moving them on at car boot sales, farmers markets and Christmas craft fairs.
Bill Seddon, MD of Gardien, says "This is definitely an emerging problem and with unemployment and the recession continuing to bite we see no sign of the problem abating. Only this week in South Tyneside Police have recovered a haul of suspected stolen plants and garden equipment which they are now trying to restore to their owners. We have seen regular reports which we have posted on our garden security blog showing this type of crime is not restricted to the North East but is a national problem. There is a lot that can be done to prevent this type of offence".
Gardien recommends that good quality pots and planters should be cleared of dead and decaying plants, powerwashed, postcoded and then stored away in a well secured, preferably metal, shed until next season. All pots should be photgraphed and included in the garden inventory which can be downloaded free from Gardien's website www.garden-security.co.uk
Larger pots , statuary and garden antiques should be securely fastened to the ground with chains, Rootball Anchors, restraining straps or bolts.
Bill Seddon again, "With autumn well established and winter on its way there is less maintenance to carry out in the garden once the leaves have been raked up. This is an ideal time to review your garden security and carry out shed maintenance including checking the condition of hinges, bolts and padlocks - also securing internal expensive items with supplementary devices, postcoding, improving signage and checking your insurance before the onset of the seasonal increase in garden crime which we always encounter in the build up to Christmas.'
The Gardien website is now acknowledged as the the most comprehensive online resource for Police, Community Safety practitioners and the gardening public on all matters relating to garden crime and garden security. In addition to a wealth of information on crime prevention, protective planting, retrieval, inventory and insurance it also has a range of Police approved and accredited security products for purchase online.
Anyone who sees this type of property being offered for sale and suspects it to be stolen should contact their Local Police, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
All media enquiries please to Bill Seddon on 0161-928-0854
For further information please contact Bill Seddon on 0161 928 0854 or e mail bill@garden-security.co.uk
© Gardien Ltd. November 2009