Halifax Home Insurance is warning households that thefts from gardens are likely to jump again this year.
According to the insurer, summer 2008 saw a 63% rise in the number of claims made for items stolen from gardens, compared to a year earlier.
London saw the greatest influx of such claims but garden thieves were also very busy in Richmond, Twickenham, Grimsby and Ipswich.
With furniture, tools and barbeques of more interest to criminals than gnomes and plastic flamingos the cost of the average claim rose to £433 last year, up 12% on 2007.
As a defence, Halifax recommends putting desirable items under lock and key and also marking valuable garden items with the owner’s postcode. If recovered by the police, they can then be returned.
In addition, policyholders should check their insurer’s small print to be certain any potential loss is covered and the value of goods located outdoors should be included in the house contents total.