According to the DailyMail, so not sure how true it is.
[flickr]photo:2896242064[/flickr]
Locking your shed door may seem like the obvious way to deter burglars from stealing expensive gardening equipment.
But one council has urged allotment holders to leave their shed doors unbolted.
It insists the measure will prevent sheds being damaged when criminals break in.
Tenants have been warned that sturdy padlocks force robbers to smash their way through doors and windows – damaging the council-owned buildings in the process.
Now allotment holders must leave their expensive gardening equipment unsecured overnight, despite a spate of recent break-ins.
Bristol City Council claims its ‘Don’t Use a Padlock’ initiative will save taxpayers’ money because fewer sheds will have to be repaired or replaced.
Their free guide to avoiding crime reads: ‘Don’t padlock your shed, it can save the shed being damaged if someone does try to get into it.
‘If there is a break-in, always inform the police.’
But gardeners at Bifield Allotments, in the troubled Stockwood area of the city, have blasted the move which they say leaves their property completely unprotected.
Update: the mirror picked it up as well, but mention the full story see the comments below
I'll go for the unlocked shed approach as long as you booby trap it like that pensioner did with the gunpowder.
Here's a concept..trespassers will be shot!
I'll go for the unlocked shed approach as long as you booby trap it like that pensioner did with the gunpowder.
Here's a concept..trespassers will be shot!
Hi, visitors to the website should be advised that the Daily Mail story is inaccurate in several important aspects.
The advice mentioned was contained in a letter to allotment-holders at a specific site which has been repeatedly targeted by intruders in search of equipment such as totavtors, mowers and strimmers, despite the recent installation by the council of two-metre high perimeter fencing.
In a letter to allotment-holders at the site, advising them of the burglaries, the council advised people not to leave expensive equipment on site. (This bit was conveniently omitted by the Daily Mail).
It also advised them to secure gates and suggested they might wish to consider not locking sheds where there was no expensive equipment as this could save unnecessary damage. NB. Most of the sheds are privately-owned, not council-owned as reported.
In the light of the fact that the police force for the city has issued different advice on this, the council will be reviewing the issue with a view to arriving at a common position.
A spokesman for Bristol City Council
Many thanks for Clearing that up Pete
yes its obvious to us all sheddies not to leave expensive items in your allotment shed, but I assume that would not have made a sensational story for the Mail, and thus for us to pick up.
I notice that quite a few papers have picked it up as well.. but they do mention the expensive equipment in the shed.
cheers and maybe we can get some of Bristol allotmenters, sharing their sheds.