Common and garden robberies

Thieves are targeting garden furniture and lighting as lockdown creates a soaring demand for outdoor accessories while Brexit has lead to delays in deliveries.

Families are finding seating, benches and tables missing if they are not properly locked up. Some have been taken in pre-planned overnight raids while the owners slept inside.

Lockdown has heightened demand with people spending longer in their gardens, but earlier this year it emerged shipping times had lengthened because of Brexit, while costs had risen due to a shortage of containers.

Sunday Post gardening expert Agnes Stevenson said: “Every week I seem to hear more stories about thefts from gardens and it is not just furniture that is going amiss, but lighting and other accessories too.

“And I’ve also spoken to many garden centre owners who are struggling to get fresh supplies of the most popular items, such as outdoor sofas and gazebos, so it seems as if this problem is set to continue.”

She advised householders to check with their home insurer to make sure these items are covered, and also to think about security.

Police Scotland recommends keeping garden furniture in a shed or garage if possible, chaining them together and marking it with your postcode.