A statue worth between £20,000 and £30,000 has been stolen from a garden in Dorset.

According to police, the peacock fountain statue theft was premeditated, and is by no means an isolated case. It is believed the heavy sculpture may have been melted down and sold to meet increasing demand for metal from various Asian countries.

Two thefts from gardens in Stoke, Suffolk, were reported earlier this month. Garden furniture was taken in one instance, while several ornaments were stolen during the second burglary.

Furthermore, police in the Forest of Dean area warned locals to protect garden items earlier this year following a spate of burglaries in the area. Expensive equipment was stolen on several occasions, and even plants were targeted by thieves.

“We will obviously be investigating these crimes but people do need to take their own precautions to guard against this sort of offence,” said police officer Bob Lloyd.

Homeowners should ensure home insurance policies cover goods stored in their gardens. It is also important that particularly valuable items, such as expensive garden ornaments, are listed individually on the policy.

“Most policies either cover garden equipment, or allow buyers to add this type of protection,” says Fair Investment Company director David Doulton. “However, with increasing reports of items being stolen from residential gardens, people should make absolutely sure they would be covered in the event of a burglary.”

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