Now that Christmas and New Year are over, most people's thoughts turn to outdoor activities. Keen gardeners purchase items for the garden which often include patio furniture, garden ornaments etc.

In spring and summer thieves target gardens as there is a good second-hand market in wrought iron gates, patio furniture, statues, bird baths, block paving etc.

Here are a few precautions which can be taken to help prevent theft from your garden:

1. Ensure that your garden has a good quality boundary fence, wall or prickly hedge. Open plan gardens are an invitation to thieves.
2. Ensure that you fit a lockable gate to your rear garden. Random thefts via back gates and open side entrances are very common.
3. If fitting ornamental gates always secure the top hinge upside down. This prevents the gates being lifted off their hinges.
4. Try to mark garden ornaments with your postcode. This will assist the police to prosecute offenders and return your property to you.
5. If a heavy ornament is to be positioned permanently, then consider anchoring it into the ground, using suitable fixings or embedding it in cement. This will help to prevent theft or the possibility of it falling over and injuring someone.
6. If possible fit external 'motion sensitive' floodlights covering the front and back of your property. These deter thieves and alert you if anyone is prowling around.
7. If you go away, move valuable items into the house or conservatory. This simple precaution could save you a lot of money.

Finally, at the time of writing, it ia not possible to confirm the next 'MEET YOUR LOCAL CONSTABLE' dates, but I will confirm the APRIL dates in the next magazine.

Best wishes.

Ashley Turner.
Community Police Constable