Gardens are a draw for thieves

23rd July, 2012

The high cost of kitting out an outdoor space is proving too expensive for some people who resort to causing hard pressed households further hardship by preferring to obtain their readymade gardens through thieving.

A recent survey has found that one in five households in Britain has been a victim of garden theft during the past 12 months. The items stolen range from fully grown trees to small pot plants, flowers and hanging baskets. The average cost to the household is roughly £70.00 and almost 20 per cent of those questioned said they had been a victim of this type of crime very recently. Bay trees and rare lilies along with olive trees and roses are also favourites with the thieves. As well as conifers and miniature palm trees, bonsai trees are also on the thieves’ list of preferred items. Seven out of ten people said the outside space at the front of their homes had been fair game and thieves will remove items from people’s doorsteps.

Almost 30 per cent of those questioned lived in the North East of the country, 25 per cent lived in the North West whilst the lowest level of garden theft was seen in the East Midlands with only 13 per cent reporting this particular crime.

 

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