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Sheds appreciated by homeowners and thieves alike

26/06/06

The average garden shed contains around £2,000 worth of property, yet the majority of homeowners leave it at the bottom of their list of security concerns.
 
A survey by home insurance provider Cornhill Direct has revealed that over 60 per cent of shed owners don't keep their shed as secure as their garage and a fifth of people haven't even fitted a lock.
 
However, sheds tend to house a surprisingly valuable array of goods, including lawn mowers (75 per cent), garden chairs (55 per cent) and bicycles (52 per cent), all of which would be appealing to an opportunistic thief.
 
Mark Bishop, a spokesman for the home insurance provider, revealed: "Insurers receive thousands of claims for items stolen from sheds.
 
"People should only keep the bare minimum of items in their sheds as they are so vulnerable to theft."
 
Mr Bishop added that, as garden sheds are particularly attractive to thieves, shed owners should "at least put a decent lock on their shed".
 
In addition, homeowners should ensure that their home insurance covers their shed and any other outbuildings and, if not, arrange for an extension of their policy.
 
The survey also revealed that many Britons count their shed as a social extension to their house, with people frequently using it as an extra room.
 
Ten per cent of the 2,000 respondents admitted that they use their shed to escape their other half, while two per cent also treat it as a drinking hole and take their friends there to listen to the radio.