POLICE are warning East Yorkshire homeowners not to become victims of theft during the summer months.

Officers say as the temperatures soar and days get longer, sheds and garages are targeted by opportunist thieves.

Sergeant Pete Rogers, of Pocklington and Wolds Weighton safer neighbourhood policing team, said the warning came after a rise in break-ins during May, with thieves targeting sheds and allotments.

He said: “Let’s consider our sheds for a moment. Think of all the valuable items inside: lawnmowers, strimmers, tools, bikes – the list can be endless.

“We put loads of valuable gear into our sheds, but just how secure do we make them when we’ve done this?

“The spring often heralds a time when we see an increase in the thefts of items from sheds right across the county. “Burglary of garden sheds and the theft of garden equipment is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the country, and recent shed burglaries in the Pocklington areas in May provide evidence for this locally.

“Our garden furniture and tools are very saleable items, so we all need to make things as difficult as possible for any would-be thief to get to our property.”

Sgt Rogers is asking residents to pay attention to the following checklist:

• Ensure your garden fences and walls are in a good state of repair.

• Consider installing outside lighting.

• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed so potential thieves can’t use them to hide on your property.

• Consider using prickly plants to act as a physical barrier.

•Always make sure you’ve got decent locks.

• Consider putting a grille inside your windows so your shed doesn’t become a shop window to a potential thief.

• Photograph all valuable items.

• Consider installing an alarm in your shed.

• When you’re out in your garden, ensure your house is secure.

• Always remember to put everything away and to lock up your shed at night.

Sgt Rogers said: “We can all deter the thief by making things as difficult as possible for them.

“The same is true with the outside of your home in summer.

“Please report suspicious people or vehicles to the police on 0845 60 60 222 or 999 in an emergency if a crime is occurring.

“You could prevent a crime and a great deal of heartache to someone.”