Property being stolen from gardens is becoming an ever increasing problem for people and their home protection policy, warn RIAS insurance company.

Gardeners in the UK spend around £4 billion a year on plants and general improvements, but this has lead to an increase in opportunistic thieves taking things from outside peoples’ homes.

More than one million garden thefts are reported each year, with a new phenomenon of ‘garden stripping’ becoming ever more common. This involves the practice of plants, shrubs, furniture, tools and water features being removed from the grounds of someone’s home.

Managing Director of RIAS, Janet Connor said, “Sadly we are all now sitting targets for garden theft. Yet people are not taking anywhere near enough precautions. Most home insurance policy holders don’t realise that the garden and its contents may not be routinely protected by their existing cover in the event of theft, loss or damage, and its costing victims as much as £400 million per year to replace stolen property.”

Ms Connor went on to say, “We strongly advise people to check their home insurance policy today, and make sure additional provision for garden cover is added if it is not there already.”