The British Crime Survey shows that there are around half a million thefts from gardens each year and about half are from garden sheds.
Many people simply don’t think about the value of the contents of their garden sheds, but thieves invariably will. Ornaments, furniture and anything with an engine are prime targets.
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What they say
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Clive Stevens, Managing Director of security firm Euronova says: ‘Sheds provide easy pickings for thieves. They are usually a breeze to break into and garden items are easy to sell on.’ In the rare event that items are recovered, the thieves often keep the loot when owners fail to identify their possessions. ‘When you put two items together the owner often can’t say which is theirs,’ says Sean Gould of West Midlands Police. In an effort to help people protect their sheds and help the police catch more thieves, Euronova is offering a unique alarm that works in an unusual way. The ShedSitter alarm uses a passive infrared beam to detect thieves, but rather than triggering an alarm it silently informs the home owner via a small wireless receiver. The owner can then contact the police directly, who will have a much better chance of arriving in time to catch the thieves.
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Surrey Police are so enthusiastic about the new covert system that they have purchased 100 ShedSitter systems to lend to the public. It is a direct attempt to counter the wave of shed crime which always arises this time of year. Euronova has now launched the ShedSitter Project, to help other police forces implement similar initiatives across the country. The ShedSitter is available from Euronova at £99.90. Customers can call 01179 442061 or email [email protected]
