A county charity is recommending a new weapon in the fight against thieves in Shropshire: prickly shrubs.
Age Concern Shropshire is determined to tackle criminals who are targeting gardens for valuable items such as lawnmowers, furniture and outdoor lighting.
Britons spend £4billion a year on outdoor products, according to the charity, which are often not covered by their home insurance.
David Sheridan, from the charity, said: “With summer fast approaching, many people are keen to make their gardens as picturesque as possible - this means buying new patio furniture and investing in water features.
“This can make burglary and theft from a garden all the more devastating. Theft from gardens and outbuildings, such as sheds, is not uncommon.
“We would like to remind older people to check the security of their gardens, and plant prickly shrubs at potential access points as a deterrent for burglars.
“We would also urge people to check their home insurance policies to ensure their garden contents are fully covered.”
The advice is particularly important for over-50s as statistics show gardening is the most popular activity among the age group.
Some 64 per cent enjoy spending time maintaining their garden and the average household spends £3,001 in the garden each year.
The Horticultural Trades Association has also backed “clever planting” as a way to make outdoor items more secure.
Spokesman Andrew Maxted said: “There are many plants available that look attractive and provide a real deterrent for opportunistic thieves. Your local garden centre plant experts will be able to advise on the best plants to suit your garden.”
Top deterrents include: Creeping juniper, Hawthorn, Quince (Chaenomeles), Viburnum tinus, all Berberis species, all Mahonia species, all Oleasters, Aucuba, Symphoticarpos, Escallonia, Blue spruce, Common holly, Firethorn, Shrub rose, Pencil Christmas Tree, Juniper, Purple berberis, Mountain pine, Blue pine, Oleaster and Blackthorn.
By Dave West
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