Local police are urging local residents to make sure that garden sheds and other buildings are secure and garden tools put away after a spate of recent thefts.
Surrey Police is appealing for information following the theft of more than £3,600 worth of electrical equipment from sheds in Redhill.
The offence occurred sometime between 4.30pm on Saturday, 21 November, and 8am on Sunday, 22 November, when several pieces of high-value garden machinery, including two petrol Honda strimmers worth £760, a Honda lawnmower worth £380 and two generators worth £800 were stolen from an address in Hatchlands Road.
Thieves also stole two fibre glass step ladders, a Viking shredder and two harnesses for the strimmers.
Tools stored in sheds are not only an attractive commodity for thieves to steal but they can be used by burglars to break into houses.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Dale Brunt said: “Sheds and outbuildings can be overlooked in terms of security yet often their contents are expensive and from a criminal’s point of view easily sold on.
“Surrey Police has always encouraged people to ensure their sheds have adequate security and I would urge people to double-check they have good security measures in place and always remember to lock away tools after they have been used. Simply by installing shed alarms and marking your tools with your details can act as effective deterrents to thieves.
“I would appeal to anyone who is, or has been, offered cheap garden machinery for sale to contact Surrey Police as it may have been stolen during this crime.”
Most burglaries are committed by opportunist thieves, and homeowners can follow these simple guidelines to help protect their shed, garage or outbuildings:
- ● Never leave a shed, garage or outbuilding unlocked, especially if it has a connecting door to the house
- Use good quality locks, such as a strong padlock or mortise lock
- ● Check the shed framework – it’s no good having strong locks if a burglar can break through a rotten timber wall
- ● Use a window lock on opening windows and a strong grille or heavy wire mesh. Using net curtains can deter casual viewing of any property inside
- ● Ensure all property is marked with your postcode. Easily identifiable items will make them more difficult to dispose of and therefore less likely to be taken in the first place
- ● Chain bicycles, mowers, ladders and tools to a strong anchor point – such as metal rings fixed in concrete to the floor – and use a close shackle padlock
- ● Does your garden have lighting? Consider installing outside security lighting to include sheds and outbuildings
- ● Keep a record of the make, model and ID of all equipment and take photos of unusual items
- ● Check your household insurance policy to ensure that the value of the items stored in your shed, garage or outbuilding is covered by your contents policy
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