To Scratch a thief... The range of plants below are an attractive means of protecting your property, and are readily available from most Garden Centres and Nurseries. Consider planting a selection of these specially chosen plants as an alternative or in addition to fencing. As well as improving your security they will add colour and variety to your garden or business premises.

Prickly planting is a visual deterrent and physical barrier intended to complement and not replace traditional crime prevention measures such as locks, alarms and lighting: more information overleaf.

Home grown security can be adopted to protect perimeters of your property, to form a barrier around drainpipes, or beneath ground floor windows etc., making entry more difficult.

For more information on door and window security contact your local crime prevention officer.

PYRACANTHA

Large evergreen shrubs suitable for wall training or hedge. White flowers. May-June followed by red, orange or yellow berries in Autumn. Thorny branches. Grows 2-4" tall.

HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES

Sea Buckthorn grows in any soil and is wind resistent with silver foliage and excellent thorns. This large shrub provides superb cover. Plant in groups of 3 to obtain berries.

BERBERIS OTTAWENSIS SUPERBA

Use as a hedge or an individual shrub. Deciduous barbed plant with beautiful purple foliage. Yellow flowers in Spring. Reaches 1.5-1.8m tall, allow two plants per metre.

BERBERIS STENOPHYLLA

Use as a hedge or shrub. Graceful evergreen with long arching prickly branches, massses of yellow flowers in Spring. Grows 1.8-2.5m tall, allow two plants per metre.

BERBERIS JULIANA

Prickly evergreen shrub with shiny dark leaves. Yellow flowers in Spring. Grows 1.2-1.8m tall.

ULEX EUROPAEUS

Common Gorse, viciously spiny. Yellow flowers April-May. Grows 1.2-1.8m tall. Plant in full sun.

MAHONIA BEALEI WINTER SUN

Prickly evergreen shrubs with fragrant yellow flowers in Winter and Spring. Grows 1.2-1.8m tall. Suitable for shade.

CRATAEGUS MONOGYNA

Common Hawthorn. Forms an impenetrable thorny hedge. Fast growing, wonderful sight in May and June with fragrant white flowers. Red haws in Autumn. Plant in staggered row 4 per metre. Prune to required height.

ILEX

Holly. Evergreen shrubs for hedging or individual shrub. Green or variegated available. Plant in sun or shade. Females produce berries when males present.

CLIMBING & RAMBLING ROSES

Useful to give added protection to walls and fences. Wide selection. Heights vary from 2.7m.

ROSA RUGOSA RUBRA-CRIMSON

Fragrant old fashioned rose - densely prickly for hedges or individual shrubs. Grows up to 2m tall. Red, white or purple flowers followed by hips in Autumn.

ROSA BLANC DOUBLE DE COUBERT - WHITE

Fragrant Old Fashioned Rose - densely prickly for hedges or individual shrubs up to 2m high.

The value of property stored in gardens, sheds and garages if often much more than people imagine. Power tools, plants, containers, hand tools, sports equipment, cycles and toys are among those items most often taken by garden thieves.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Put away all tools and equipment and lock the shed. Replace standard hinges with strap hinges secured by coach bolts. Use good quality locks to secure your gates and doors. A tough pad bar (also called hasp & staple) fitted with a strong padlock and secured with coach bolts is the most effective way of securing a door.

Some standard locks fitted to up-and-over garage doors are easily overcome. A padlock with a hasp and staple fitted on each side is very effective.

Double garage doors with a rim latch should be supplemented with a mortice deadlock.

If the garage is attached to the main building ensure that connecting doors are secure.

Install outside security lighting operated by either movement sensor or photo electric cell (Dusk to Dawn light).

Check that your household insurance policy covers theft from your garden and outbuildings.

Use plant protection - such as thorny shrubs detailed overleaf. Planted over, or against, potential access routes such as walls and fences these make an effective barrier.

Mark your power tools etc. with your postcode and house number so that if they are stolen they can be identified and returned.