Warwickshire Police would like to issue the following crime prevention advice to help reduce thefts from sheds, garages, outbuildings and farms.

By taking fairly simple precautions, householders can drastically cut the chance of becoming a victim of such crime.

Farm buildings and Farmhouses

Isolated properties, stables, farm buildings, machinery and trailers are all vulnerable to criminals. Please follow the below points to help protect your property.

• Ensure valuable equipment is stored in a secure building behind a strong locked door, or use a metal cage and keep it locked when unattended.
• When not in use, lock doors to barns, farmhouses and outbuildings.
• Use good quality locking bars and high security mortice padlocks on windows and doors.
• Fit windows with metal bars or grilles.
• Ensure that diesel and fertiliser is securely locked away.
• Ensure doors and windows are well maintained and in a good state of repair.
• Invest in timers that turn lights on and off inside the farmhouse if you go out at night and consider installing outdoor security lighting.

A secure perimeter around your fields and outbuildings will help to deter thieves.

• Check fences and hedges bordering rural properties to identify weak spots that could provide easy access to criminals or vehicles, and secure where necessary.
• Consider restricting access at your entrance to prevent unwelcome vehicles entering. Make sure gates cannot be lifted off the chain or hinges.
• Install security lighting around yards, outbuildings and isolated locations. Consider installing perimeter alarms, where practical.

Secure machinery and tools by:

• Locking or immobilising vehicles and equipment when not in use. Remove keys from cars, tractors and other vehicles left unattended.
• Whenever possible avoid leaving machinery in isolated locations or fields – particularly near roads, where they can be removed without attracting attention.
• Visibly mark your machinery and tools – this not only acts as a deterrent to thieves but also helps police catch criminals and reunite stolen property with its rightful owner if it is recovered. Keep a list of tools, together with serial numbers and any identifying marks.
• Keep tools locked away when you’re not using them. As well as running the risk of being stolen, they can also be used by burglars to gain access to your property.

Domestic sheds and garages

• Wherever possible do not store valuable items in sheds.
• Always lock your shed and garage and fit a good quality padlock.
• Install a shed alarm.
• Shackle large items such as bicycles and lawn mowers together and, if possible secure to a permanent fixture such as a cemented metal post. This will make it difficult for thieves to remove.
• Ladders and spades should also be attached to a secure fixture. These items are often used by thieves to gain access to properties. Do not leave unattended in gardens.
• Visibly mark all removable items such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and garden furniture with your postcode and house number. Alternatively use an ultra violet marker or property marking system such as SmartWater. Smartwater website
• Replace ordinary screws on outbuilding doors with non-return screws.
• Make a note of make/model/serial number of tools and bicycles.
• Obscure the windows of your shed/garage to prevent thieves seeing what you have inside.
• Consider joining you local Neighbourhood Watch scheme. For details, please click on the below link.

County Neighbourhood Watch details

Following this advice will help to protect your property from harm.

Crimestoppers

If you have any information relating to a crime, please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or visit:

www.Crimestoppers-uk.org

Warwickshire Police

To report a crime to Warwickshire Police, please call 01926 415000. In an emergency, please dial 999.