Tesco home insurance has warned consumers to check that their gardens are burglar proof in anticipation of the coming summer months.

This time of year has been dubbed the British Summer Crime by Mick Kelly, manager of neighbourhoodwatch.net. He has revealed that more than half of all break ins happen from the back of the house and recommended that people “get out into the garden and make sure your fencing has stood up to the winter gales.”

Tesco has given a number of tips to customer to ensure gardens are fully secure, these include planting prickly plants like holly or roses under window sills to make entry more difficult. This will also help keep home insurance claims down.

Tesco also suggested that adding loose trellises to walls and fences will make it more difficult to climb for potential burglars and security lighting will also act as a deterent. Head of Tesco home insurance, Allan Burns added: “Now is a good time to raise awareness of how to improve home security by using the environment outside your home.”