Contact the police: Report the theft by calling 101 (non-emergency) or logging it online to obtain a crime reference number. 

Check your insurance: Review your home contents insurance policy to determine your specific financial limit for items left in the open garden, which is often lower than the limit for items locked inside a shed. 

Gather evidence: Collect receipts, photos of the furniture, and download any relevant CCTV or video doorbell footage. 

Search online marketplaces: Scan local resale platforms like Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone is attempting to sell your items nearby. 

Physical anchor locks: Use heavy-duty, braided motorcycle or bicycle cable locks to chain your chairs and tables together or secure them to a wall anchor or ground point. 

Secure the boundaries: Keep your garden gates locked using high-quality padlocks and repair any broken fence panels that create easy access points for thieves. 

Property marking: Mark your postcode and house number onto the underside of the furniture using permanent engraving or police-accredited asset-marking fluids like SelectaDNA to deter resellers. 

Motion-activated lighting: Install automated security lights overlooking your patio area to eliminate darkness and surprise opportunist thieves. 

Furniture covers: Conceal high-value items, such as expensive rattan sets, with heavy-duty patio covers to prevent thieves from spotting them from afar. 

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