Preventing tool theft

How to prevent tool theft at home

• When you are finished with your tools, lock them away; a ladder left out can be used to break into your house. Use a good quality padlock or mortice lock on your shed door.

• Make sure your shed windows, hinges and hasp fittings are strong and cover windows to obscure the view of contents.

• Clearly security mark all valuable tools and consider fitting external motion activated security lighting.

• Don’t leave house doors and windows open whilst you’re busy in the garden; an opportunistic thief might take advantage!

• Consider defensive planting to prevent anyone coming into your garden (spiky palms and rosa rugosa are quite effective)

Rural crime

Rural crime can be grouped into four main categories:

Wildlife crime

This includes hare coursing, poaching and interfering with protected species.

Agricultural crime

This covers working farms, farm machinery, farm buildings and smallholdings. Offences include theft of equipment or fuel, damage to property and livestock worrying.

Heritage crime

This is defined as 'any offence which harms the value of England's heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations'. That can include offences like lead theft from churches, damage to ancient monuments and illegal metal detecting

Environmental crime

This includes illegal waste dumping, fly tipping, polluting watercourses and land.

Visit Thames Valley Police Rural Crime Prevention website (opens in new tab) for advice and tips to avoid becoming a victim of crime. Report rural crime (TVP website opens in new tab).