Keeping Your Lawn Mower Safe This Summer

Warmer weather guarantees an increase in burglaries and opportunistic thefts from homes, as people leave their windows open or leave toys and tools in the garden. Lawn mowers and other gardening equipment are a popular target, especially in the summer as they can be sold on quickly to people needing cheap lawn mowers, rotavators and other landscaping tools. They are easy to load on to a van or trailer without arousing too much suspicion, and because push-along mowers are often left outdoors, or in an unlocked shed, there is no need to break in to steal them.

Children’s toys and lawn furniture are also a target; anything that is routinely left outdoors will attract the attention of thieves scouting out a home to target. You can keep your lawn mower safe with a few simple steps. The most obvious thing to do is keep it inside a locked shed, a conservatory or lean to where it cannot be seen. A cheap tarpaulin will effectively cover a lawn mower if it cannot be kept away from windows or doors. If you have a ride on lawn mower make sure the keys are not left with it, as without those it is hard to sell on and therefore less likely to be stolen. Taking the clippings collection box off and storing this in another location can also help reduce the risk of opportunistic theft. Although the box can easily be replaced, it makes it harder to sell on quickly when the parts are missing.

Although it is tempting to leave your lawn mower out while you nip to the shops on a Sunday, you really should lock it away if you are going to be away from the house long enough for someone to steal it. Two people could easily carry an electric mower out of your garden and into a van in a couple of minutes, and you could find yourself coming home with the papers, intending to finish the mowing only to find the perfect excuse for not doing it – the lawn mower has vanished!

Consider the cost of replacing your lawn mower if it is stolen. It is a good idea to check your home insurance policy as items kept outside may not be covered by some policies. Also check the criteria for storing lawn mowers and other garden tools, as leaving them unsecured may invalidate your policy. If you had to replace a ride on mower out of your own pocket, it will cost more than a small, lockable shed that could significantly lower the risk of theft, and comply with any insurance requirements. If you were to claim against your home insurance policy to

replace a stolen lawn mower you will see an increase in premium for the next year, so it is also worth considering how this cost will affect your finances. You can buy a simple shed big enough to store your lawn mower from around £130, much cheaper than a new one.

If a shed is not an option (or to increase security inside one) you can lock your lawnmower to the property by cementing an anchor into the ground to which you can attach a heavy duty padlock. Although no padlock is 100% unbreakable, there are some on the market that will take a long time to cut through, which is enough to deter all but the most determined thieves.

If you are not already securing your lawn mower with one of these methods, then please use some our tips to keep your lawn mower safe this summer, and pass the information on if you know anyone who advertises their pride and joy to thieves.