Over 1,500 London gardens, sheds and garages were burgled in 2014, according to a study of official police figures by Policy Expert.
Research from the insurer also found that the average UK shed holds around £1,000 of valuables, including BBQs, garden tools and sports equipment. However, 39% of owners are sure these belongings are included in their insurance cover.
The survey of over 2,400 people found that this summer 37% will be using their iPad or tablet outside, 78% will have a mobile phone with them and 24% will have a stereo or CD player outside the house.
Top 10 London boroughs for garden theft:
| Borough | |
| 1 | Richmond Upon Thames |
| 2 | Wandsworth |
| 3 | Enfield |
| 4 | Hillingdon |
| 5 | Barnet |
| 6 | Sutton |
| 7 | Hounslow |
| 8 | Barking & Dagenham |
| 9 | Bromley |
| 10 | Bexley |
Adam Powell, head of operations at Policy Expert, said: “People store all sorts of items in their sheds and garages and it’s easy to overlook the sheer value of these possessions. For that reason, people can’t forget that outbuildings are often seen as an easy target for opportunistic thieves.
“When choosing an insurance policy, it’s really important to check the small-print and make sure that the contents of your outbuildings are included. That means you need to check whether the value of the items in your shed is covered by your existing outbuildings insurance, or whether you need to declare a specific item separately.
“And if you have a prized possession hidden in your shed, it’s also worth investing in some additional security measures such as external lighting – and not just for peace of mind, it could bring your premium down too.”