As the warmer weather arrives, Aylesbury Vale residents are being reminded to nip garden crime in the bud and to secure their gardens and protect their sheds, garages and outbuildings plus their garden and power tools.
The Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership has launched its spring garden security campaign to drive down thefts from sheds, gardens and garages. Historically, shed burglaries tend to rise in the spring and everyone is urged to take action to prevent becoming a victim of crime by remaining extra vigilant.
The campaign starts on Wednesday 20th March with a road-show in Buckingham. The series of road-shows will include an event at Haddenham Garden Centre on Wednesday 23rd April.
Future dates include:
- Wednesday 26th March, World's End Garden Centre, Wendover – 11am to 3pm
- Wednesday 2 April, Buckingham Garden Centre, Buckingham – 11am to 3pm
- Wednesday 9 April, Homebase, Aylesbury – 11am to 3pm
- Wednesday 16 April, B & Q Aylesbury – 11am to 3pm
- Wednesday 23 April, Haddenham Garden Centre – 11am to 3pm
Aylesbury Vale residents will be able to bring up to three tools from home or purchased that day from the road-show locations (one pedal cycle will also be marked if people wish to bring it along). A range of bolts, hasps and padlocks will be demonstrated and garden security advice provided and associated free literature will be available.
Councillor Pam Pearce, AVDC Cabinet Member for Community Matters, said: "Easy, simple, steps can be taken by everyone to help reduce garden crime and keep their belongings safe throughout the year. Thieves love insecure gardens and we need to work together to keep garden crime low and our gardens places we can relax safely throughout the spring and summer."
The Community Safety Partnership has issued the following garden and shed security advice:
- Make access to gardens and areas where sheds and outbuildings are located as difficult as possible – lock all side and rear gates using a bolt and padlock or hasp and staple lock and make sure fencing/hedging is secure. Prickly plants can be used around the fence line to deter access.
- Install passive security lighting in gardens.
- Keep sheds, garage and outbuilding locked with good quality locks – padlock alarms are available from hardware shops that sound if any attempt is made to tamper with them.
- Consider putting bars on the windows of sheds etc. to prevent break-ins.
- Strengthen the security of sheds by reinforcing door hinges, fitting doors with non-returnable screws or coach bolts.
- Don't leave tools and equipment in gardens but keep them locked away and consider securing these with cables and chains with robust padlocks.
- Have power tools, garden implements and pedal cycles security marked with a post code and house number with deterrent warning stickers placed on the shed/garage/outbuilding. windows. Use an ultra violet pen or a permanent marker pen on more heavy duty items such as lawn mowers.'
