Monthly Community Safety and Crime Prevention Bulletin

Monthly Community Safety and Crime Prevention Bulletin

JULY COMMUNITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION BULLETIN

Brought to you from Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police’s Specialist Designing Out Crime Officers

PC Steve Morris & PC Gareth Rankin-Hill

Resident, We hope you are enjoying the prolonged period of nice weather.

Incidents such as shed burglaries increase this time of year. We want to share with you the simple, appropriate, realistic and cost-effective recommendations to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Sheds and outbuildings are often targeted by thieves as an easy option, and they hold valuable items that can be easily sold on i.e. items such as bikes, mowers, power tools, garden tools and sporting equipment such as golf clubs.

Research has shown that the average shed contents are valued between £1,500 and £5,000, making sheds easy pickings if insecure.

This link below shows a video which breaks down the most effective measures to prevent shed associated crimes.

Simple & Effective Methods to Keep your Shed Secure

Why are Sheds and Outbuildings Targeted?

Sheds and outbuildings often contain high-value items that are easy to sell on, including:

Power tools

DIY tools and materials

Lawnmowers and garden machinery

Bicycles and e-bikes

Motorcycles and scooters

Camping and leisure equipment

How Do Thieves Gain Access?

Many shed burglaries require very little effort. Common methods include:

Forcing or cutting padlocks

Prying open doors or windows

Removing weak hinges

Breaking lightweight panels

Entering through unlocked doors

Using tools found outside the property

Some offenders will first check whether expensive items are visible through windows or open doors before deciding whether to break in.

Others may enter gardens by climbing fences or through unlocked side gates before targeting sheds and garages.

Don’t Make It Easy for Criminals

Simple habits can significantly reduce the risk of theft.

Avoid leaving expensive equipment in plain sight and always return tools and bicycles to secure storage after use,

Ladders, wheelie bins and garden furniture should also be stored securely, as they can be used to gain access to upper windows or help thieves climb over fences,

Avoid advertising valuable purchases by leaving branded packaging outside your property after birthdays, Christmas or home improvement projects.

Strengthen Physical Security

A strong shed is only as secure as its weakest point. Consider improving security by:

Fitting robust locks designed for external buildings,

Reinforcing doors and frames

Using security screws or coach bolts on external hinges

Installing laminated or reinforced glazing where appropriate

Securing windows with suitable locks

Anchoring valuable items inside where possible

If you store bicycles, motorcycles or expensive tools, consider using additional internal security such as ground anchors or chains.

Improve Natural Surveillance

Criminals prefer to work where they cannot easily be seen.

Good lighting, trimmed hedges and appropriate positioning of sheds can improve visibility and increase the likelihood of suspicious activity being noticed.

Motion-activated lighting or dusk till dawn lights can also act as a useful deterrent, particularly during the darker months.

Where appropriate, CCTV can provide additional reassurance and valuable evidence should an incident occur.

Property Marking and Registration

Property marking is one of the simplest ways to make stolen items traceable.

Marking valuable equipment with a unique identifier and registering it on a recognised property database helps police identify recovered property and return it to its rightful owner.

Keep a record of:

Make and model

Serial numbers

Photographs

Purchase receipts

Identifying marks

These details can also assist insurers in the event of a claim.

Be Mindful of Social Media

Posting photographs of new purchases, workshop projects or expensive equipment can unintentionally advertise what is stored at your property.

Consider whether images reveal:

Valuable tools or machinery

The layout of your garden

Security arrangements

Access points to sheds or garages

Limiting location information and adjusting privacy settings can reduce the amount of information available to criminals.

What to Do If Your Shed is Broken Into

If you discover that your shed or outbuilding has been burgled:

Avoid touching anything unnecessarily, as forensic evidence may be present

Report the incident to the police as soon as possible

Photograph any damage

Contact your insurer

Update your security before replacing stolen items

If marked or registered property has been stolen, provide those details to the police.

There are two companies in the United Kingdom that can supply new Secured by Design timber sheds that meet the Sold Secure SS301 Security Specification. Both are in Wales.

https://www.shedsnchalets.co.uk/ in South Wales

https://www.creatingenterprise.org.uk/ in North Wales

Secured by Design operates an accreditation scheme on behalf of the UK Police Service for products or services that have met recognised security standards. These products or services – which must be capable of deterring or preventing crime - are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’. SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK.

Stay safe all,

Steve & Gareth
Designing Out Crime Officers
Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police.

Useful Crime Prevention Links: -

Secured by Design - Crime Prevention & Security Advice

LITTLE YELLOW BOOK JAN 2026.pdf

How to Contact Us or Report Information 📞

Non-Emergency: 101

Emergency: 999 / 112 (if crime in progress or immediate danger)

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Steve Morris
(DPP, Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO), Central Prevention Hub)