Outlawn

With gardening season in full swing, green

thumbs have focused their attention on

cutting lawns, pruning shrubs, fertilizing

the garden, and monitoring dreaded weeds such as

creeping charlie.

With the art of horticulture demanding a

gardener's undivided attention, it's easy for another

type of creeping charlie to make his or her way

through your neighbourhood. I'm referring to the two-legged type that blends into

your landscape like a swiftfooted

chameleon.

The garden thief is an

opportunist who can't wait

to survey the goods and

make off with your favourite

tools and equipment. Because

items such as lawn mowers,

hedge trimmers, power washers, and

gas edgers carry a relatively high value, they are always

front and centre on a burglar's list. And garden

furniture, patio accessories, and yard adornments aren't

exempt either. Quite often, a return trip in a truck will

allow thieves to load up on their week's pay.

Don't let these bandits steal the efforts of your hard

work. Fight back with some common-sense ideas that

will help send these light-fingered sneaks packing.

The first line of defense is your perimeter fence,

so make sure that it's in good condition. Install

secure locks on gates leading into your yard as another

obstacle for intruders to overcome.

Set up exterior lighting with infrared sensors that

detect movement. They will illuminate dark areas of

your garden where possible. Keep any obstructions,

such as overgrown shrubs or large plants, trimmed to

create proper sightlines.

Make your garden equipment easy to identify by

engraving it with your driver's license number before

locking it up. It's also a good idea to keep a list of

serial numbers if possible. Ensure that you install

proper deadbolts on your shed or storage box. Never

leave garden equipment or machinery unattended. It

only takes a split second for a thief to spoil your day.

If you have any garden ornaments or expensive trees

or shrubs, you should use earth-anchoring systems to

hold them firmly in place. These anchors are made of

steel wire that is wrapped around the protected item

with the anchored end pushed into the ground with a

steel pole. Once the anchor is embedded, a sharp tug

will wedge it permanently in the ground.

Plants can also deter criminals and are very effective

in the fight against crime. The combination of thorns,

large branches, and thick growth are all winning

combinations. Some plants to consider next to fences,

windows, or drain pipes are:

Berberis julianae (Wintergreen barberry): a prickly

evergreen shrub with shiny, dark leaves.

Climbing roses: great for walls and fences.

Pyracantha (firethorn): an evergreen shrub with

large, thorny branches. Great as a wall trainer or hedge.

Produces white flowers in May and red in June with

bright orange berries in autumn.

Holly: a prickly evergreen shrub for hedging or as an

individual shrub. Great in sun or shade.

Frank Fourchalk is a licenced locksmith and

security consultant. Visit his web site at

www.yourhomesecurity.ca.