THE importance of securing garden sheds with an inexpensive alarm has been highlighted in an attempted burglary at Thetford.

THE importance of securing garden sheds with an inexpensive alarm has been highlighted in an attempted burglary at Thetford.

The intruder tried to get into the shed by breaking the padlock. The alarm, that only costs �5, was then activated and the noise of the alarm deterred the burglar from stealing any equipment.

The incident took place this week on the Barnham Cross Estate at Thetford.

Thetford police community service officer Rachael Ashley said : “This incident has shown the importance of shed alarms. The alarms are valuable tools to deter thieves from stealing your personal possessions.”

There are a number of police recommended measures that will enable householders to keep their sheds secure.

Padlocks should be fitted to shed and gate doors and make sure that the doors of the shed are solid enough not to be kicked in.

Consider having lockable steel boxes fitted to the floor to store your tools or anchor posts fitted to the floor to secure larger tools and equipment.

Property kept in sheds should be visibly and permanently marked using Ulra Violet marker pens available from Thetford police station for �1.

Consider using security lighting for the perimeter area of your shed. This means that if an offender approaches your shed within a specific distance this will activate a light and illuminate the offender possibly preventing them from carrying out an unlawful act. The �5 alarms are available from Thetford police station.

Further crime prevention information is available by contacting Thetford Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0845 456 4567.