Garden thefts to exacerbate debt concerns?

People across the UK could see their debt concerns worsen as a result of thefts from gardens this winter, new research has suggested.

A study carried out by More Than has found homeowners are set to leave over £4 billion worth of unprotected products in their yards in the coming months.

The More Than Garden Theft analysis, which surveyed 1,200 adults with outdoor spaces, revealed a lackadaisical attitude from Britons in regards to protecting the items they leave outside.

It found 15 per cent of people place expensive tools in an unlocked garden shed, while 35 per cent fail to take any security measures at all.

Moreover, it appears individuals are moving to more costly backyard apparatus – with the average value of goods exceeding £350 in many regions throughout Britain.

The investigation discovered many residents have £140 worth of potted plants and flowers at their property, £160 worth of outside ornaments and lights and a barbecue that retails at around £140.

And rather than hide the cooking device away from the eyes of would-be burglars, 55 per cent of respondents claimed they bought the instrument to have it as a design feature for its style and the aesthetic effect.

From a geographical point of view, London is the garden theft capital of the UK, with 34 per cent of locals having products stolen from their outside areas.

More Than spokesman Pete Markey described putting exposed goods outside as the equivalent of leaving the front door open.

Recent research from Aviva found around one-third of cyclists in Britain have been the victim of a bike theft.

By Joe White