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Gardens – the thin green line

As spring blossoms, the garden again becomes a place of work, rest and play.

Home Insurance

Gardens – the thin green line
17/03/08

Gardens – the thin green line

However, we remind our customers that it can also play an important role in protecting the home from unwelcome intruders.

Mick Kelly, manager of the website neighbourhoodwatch.net was keen to point out the importance of this time of year saying “As the clocks go forward our message is take steps now to prevent British Summer Crime. Police figures show that over half of all break-ins occur from the back of the house. Now is the time to get out into the garden and make sure your fencing has stood up to the winter gales.”
So while you’re clipping your clematis and planting your petunias this March, take a look at Tesco Home Insurance’s top ten tips to make your garden a force to be reckoned with:-
  1. Plant prickly plants and bushes such as roses under window sills, to prevent easy entry. For the casual gardener, holly is prickly but fairly low maintenance.
  2. Add loose trellises to fences or walls around your back garden, these are too unstable to climb over and can provide excellent terrain for climbing plants such as fast growing vines and honeysuckle.
  3. Use gravel for paths as the idea of creating noise will deter the opportunist thief.
  4. Prune low tree branches (below 7ft) to avoid providing cover or potential access to the house. Also trim tree branches close to upper windows as they may provide access.
  5. Position security lighting at vulnerable exits or somewhere that will cast obvious shadows.
  6. Give garden gates 3 bolts - top, middle and bottom and padlock the middle one, to prevent burglars exploiting a weakness.
  7. Position outdoor dustbins well clear of any potential entrances.
  8. Ensure your shed is secure and expensive items are not visible from the window.
  9. Never leave tools out as they can be used to break-in.
  10. Secure your garage as those with interior doors can be an easy way in and provide cover for thieves.
Allan Burns, head of Tesco Home insurance commented: “Now is a good time to raise awareness of how to improve home security by using the environment outside your home. Many burglaries are carried out by opportunists, so by making it difficult, you can reduce your chances of them even trying.”
Neighbourhoodwatch.net added: “Getting to know your next-door neighbours can also pay dividends. Areas where Neighbourhood Watch groups are active tend to have much lower levels of crime – simply because neighbours are looking out for one another.”
‘Operation Bumblebee’ – the MET Police’s anti-burglary campaign suggest the following examples of plant families that may aid a secure garden:
Trellis/ Climbing Plants
Rosa – Rose, Smilax, Rubus – bramble family
Plants to go alongside your fence or wall
Osmanthus, Firethorn, Colletia, Chaenomeles – quince, Sea Buckthorn, Mahonia
Hedge plants
Prunus, Ulex – gorse, Common Hawthorn, Poncirus, Berberis – Barberry, Ilex – holly.
- More to follow -
Useful websites
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For further information, please contact:
 
Matthew Dransfield
Tesco Personal Finance
Tel: 0131 523 5533
 
Nicola McGowan
Tesco Personal Finance
Tel: 0131 523 5533
 
Greg Dawson
Haggie Hepburn
Tel: 0207 334 7777
 
Key benefits of Tesco Home Insurance:
  • We will replace purchased stored information up to £1,000, e.g. music on your MP3 player.
  • 24hr household emergency helpline.
  • Dedicated claims team.
  • We'll cover your buildings for up to £1million, subject to eligibility.
Tesco Home Insurance
  • Tesco Home Insurance is underwritten by UK Insurance Limited.
  • 35% discount in your first year when you buy online
  • 30% discount in your first year when you buy over the phone
These discounts are taken off the risk based premium. The risk based premium is the price the customer pays for insurance based on their personal circumstances.
  • Plus, if you’re a Tesco Car Insurance customer you’ll get a further discount
Tesco Personal Finance
Tesco Personal Finance Limited is a joint venture between The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Tesco PLC. Tesco Personal Finance Limited. Registered in Scotland No. 173199. Registered Office: 24 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1AF.
 
Tesco Compare
Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited is a part of the Tesco Personal Finance Group, a joint venture between The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Tesco PLC. Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited. Registered in Scotland No.SC318925. Registered Office: 24 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 1AF.Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.