The UK's sheds are not properly secured despite containing hundreds of pounds worth of property, a new survey finds.
Britain's garden sheds are providing temptation for thieves - and owners are not doing enough to discourage criminals, according to new research.
A study by M&S Money discovered that the average British shed contains £888 worth of property. One respondent to the firm's survey actually had as much as £30,000 of shed contents.
Thefts from sheds were also found to be quite common, with almost a third of all shed owners knowing someone who had seen property taken from their shed.
However, despite the high value of goods and the apparent prevalence of thefts, nearly a quarter of all shed owners fail to take security measures to protect the contents.
"Sheds often contain a wealth of property, including tools or machinery which can cost thousands of pounds," said M&S insurance manager Judith Roberts. "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."
Ms Roberts advised owners to make sure any property in sheds is covered by their home insurance polices and especially to check if there is a limit. She also warned: "Even if you do have insurance, unless you secure your shed, any claim may be invalid."
