One in every six Brits is put off
spending money on gardens and outdoor spaces by the fear of theft or other
damage, according to new research.
Garden tools, bicycles and plants
are the three most commonly stolen outdoor items, the figures from Lloyds TSB
Insurance show, with barbecues and ornaments close behind.
The average garden is now worth
an estimated £2,000, the study shows, with homeowners spending an average of
£894 every year on their outdoor spaces. But more than four out of ten either
have no insurance at all or are unaware of whether their home contents insurance covers items stored outside.
Figures from the Office for
National Statistics show that thefts from gardens and other exterior spaces
rose by 17 per cent in the past five years to reach a total of 1.4 million.
Even so, more than two-fifths of
homeowners admitted that they did not have a secure lock for their outdoor
areas, potentially putting themselves at risk.
Protect your prized possessions
with home contents insurance from Discount Insurance.
