With spring newly arrived and summer on the way, many people will be dusting down their gardening gear and getting back out in to the garden to while away the long evenings.

According to new research conducted by a leading home insurance provider though, many people are still not taking seriously how much they stand to lose if they are not adequately insured for items left in their gardens and sheds.

According to M&S Money, nearly two-thirds of Brits have neglected to check whether their tools, garden equipment and even the plants themselves are covered under their home insurance [http://www.onlyfinance.com/Insurance/Home-Insurance/] policies.
Protect your garden

Houses across the country are becoming increasingly difficult targets for thieves because of the care people now take to secure their homes. Devices such as burglar alarms and high strength locks are commonplace and go a long way towards deterring potential thieves.

However, these precautions aren't being used in the garden, which makes them an easy opportunity for those up to no good.

Judith Roberts, Insurance Manager at M&S Money pointed out that the average garden shed contained around £900 worth of property, which large numbers of people are failing to ensure is being protected adequately.

Fitting a good quality lock to the door of the shed and making sure it is always kept locked overnight is one simple and cheap way of reducing the risk of a break-in massively. Many thieves who target gardens are opportunistic so adding this basic level of security should put them off and make them look towards a garden which isn't so well secured.

"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," said Roberts.

"Householders can take simple steps to reduce the risk of becoming a garden crime victim. It is also wise to check whether your home insurance policy provides cover for property in the garden," she added.
Are you covered?

The results of the survey conducted by M&S suggest that far from being a rare event, nearly 25% of people in the North of England knew someone who had had their garden broken in to.

Many insurance policies will cover thefts from both the shed and from the garden itself but it is vital for homeowners to make sure that their policy is one of those that does - if not they could find themselves forking out hundreds of pounds to replace lost tools.

Another important thing to note is the value that your policy will cover in the event of a garden theft. If your policy only covers under £1000 worth of items, for example, it would be a wise idea to move any items over that value inside where they will fall under the normal contents cover of your home.

"Our survey reveals that many people fail to take even simple steps to secure their shed. It's not surprising, therefore, that insurers receive many claims for theft from sheds," added Roberts.

So make sure this spring that you take these simple steps and stop thieves from costing you a fortune.