Gardens across the UK can now be filled with valuable items such as top of the range barbeques and expensive patio furniture. With the country hoping for a good summer this year, many homeowners will be sorting through their sheds or garages, to get out items in readiness to enjoy the forecasted finer weather.

However, if these items left out, they could be more likely to be stolen. A price comparison website has urged people to follow a few helpful tips which could help to prevent you from becoming a victim of the green fingered thief.

One element of protection against such a crime can be to purchase comprehensive home insurance, which will financially compensate the unfortunate who are affected.

All items of value should be kept out of sight and locked away. Desirable items to thieves could include lawnmowers, bicycles and Barbeque grills. Using ultraviolet pens, will allow you to mark expensive items with your postcode. This will make stolen items easily recognisable if they are recovered by the Police

Security sensor lighting around your home and inside the garden, will deter thieves as will, high prickly hedges, for example hawthorn, are a deterrent for a thief who has to climb them to gain access to your garden

Become a member of the local Neighbourhood Watch scheme. If thieves can see your home is in an area that is watched by neighbours, they will move on to an area that has a lower likelihood of being watched is lower.

Cover all elements inside and out

Darren Black, the Head of Home Insurance at the price comparison site, said: "There is no real standard approach to how insurers treat garden cover, so the key message for the consumer is to shop around and always read the policy documents before you decide to buy.

"If you are the owner of expensive garden furniture and plants, take time in checking the small print. Make sure the policy you have offers the cover you need, for all elements of your belongings - inside and out of the home."

Mr Black concluded: "While some insurers include garden cover as standard, others offer it as an 'add on'. As we all hope for a hot summer, make sure that shade from the sun is not the only protection you have."

Garden cover got greenery

In addition to the points above, Judith Roberts, the Insurance manager at M&S added that laying gravel on paths can make it difficult for intruders to be quiet. She also reiterated the points of installing automatic security lighting and growing a thorny hedge around the garden. However she stated that homeowners should cover the plants in their garden.

She said: "Householders often spend thousands of pounds securing their home to protect their family and property. However, despite the huge amount of time and money invested in many gardens, security levels are often very poor, making them an attractive target for thieves and vandals."

M&S conducted research, which found that 17 per cent of garden owners know someone that has been a victim of garden theft. Additionally, one in ten people said their own gardens had been a victim of vandalism.

However, two-thirds of homeowners said they did not ensure that trees, shrubs and bushes were covered by their home insurance. This problem could prove expensive, as M&S Money claimed that the average garden features £721 worth of greenery.