Illuminating sheds 'deters thieves'

16:11:20 18th November 2010

People should position outdoor lighting so that it illuminates their garden sheds as this can deter thieves, police in north Belfast have claimed.

This piece of advice has come after a number of thefts occurred in the city, with items such as bicycles, sporting goods and gardening equipment being stolen from sheds, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

As well as keeping sheds illuminated, the police advised people to keep these buildings in good condition and to fit a closed shackle padlock to the doors.

Any screw or bolt heads securing the doors should be covered so that they cannot be removed and fitting grills or mesh to the windows is also a good idea as they reinforce the glass.

Inside the shed, homeowners are being advised to consider chaining large items such as bicycles and lawnmowers together so that they are difficult for any uninvited guests to get away with.

Earlier this month, the Shields Gazette reported that a man who burgled a garden shed had written a letter to magistrates confessing to the crime.