With the improving weather, tens of thousands of people will be taking the opportunity to be working on their allotments.
What can you do to keep their plots and gardening equipment safe and secure? Spring traditionally saw an increase in thefts from unsecure allotment sheds.
Crime prevention advice for an allotment shed:
- Make sure your shed is secure, that there are no panels which could be easily damaged and fit good quality locks and an alarm.
- Security mark items in your shed and any valuable items that might be in your garden.
- Consider securing expensive items in your shed by chaining them to a strong anchor point.
- Put all your tools securely away once they are finished with.
- Use old tools, or deface new ones to reduce their resale value. Painting all tools pink is
remarkably effective (recommended by Northumbria police). - Encourage plot holders to etch or mark the site postcode on all tools; if you get a spate of
theft you may be able to trace it to a specific car boot sale and notify the police. - Keep a note of serial numbers of power tools and photograph valuable items.
- Never employ dangerous booby traps – they are illegal and ineffective.
Advice from National Allotments Regeneration Initiative and Holmebrook and Rother Safer
Neighbourhood Policing Team.