Aviva issues warning as value of shed theft claims increases by 9% to over £4,500

Aviva is urging homeowners to protect homes and belongings as new data reveals that the average claim for shed and outbuilding theft has increased from £4,205^[3] in 2024 to £4,567 in 2025 – a 9% rise.

This could – in part – be explained by homeowners choosing to store high value items -such as golf clubs and bicycles/electric bikes - outside of the home. According to separate research^[2] conducted by Aviva, garden tools and equipment are the most likely to be stored in sheds and outbuildings, followed by outdoor furniture and power tools.

Despite the value of the items stored, the research indicates that security and protection measures may not have kept pace. While nearly half (44%) of sheds and outbuildings include basic locks, fewer households use additional security measures such as burglar alarms (14%), cameras outside (22%) or motion‑activated lighting (20%), leaving 4.4 million sheds more vulnerable to theft.

Hannah Davidson, Senior Underwriting Manager, Home and Lifestyle at Aviva commented: “Sheds can be seen as an extension of the home, and when you add up bikes, tools and equipment collected over time, the value of what’s stored inside can quickly mount up – exceeding £4,500, according to our data.

“It’s concerning that over half of sheds or outbuildings don’t have basic locks, particularly when the items they’re storing are likely to be easily portable and attractive to opportunist thieves. Taking simple steps – such as installing robust locks, adding motion-sensor lighting, and keeping valuable items out of sight - can make a real difference when deterring theft. In some cases, stolen tools can even be used to break into the main property, so it’s also worth thinking carefully about what you store outside the home.

“If you have a shed or outbuilding, it’s important to make sure you have the right level of cover in place, particularly for higher-value items such as bikes. Cover for theft may require evidence of forced entry and limits are likely to apply, which can vary between insurers, so it’s essential that you review your policy documents to understand exactly what is covered.”

Aviva’s top tips for protecting sheds and outbuildings include:

• Always lock sheds and outbuildings Even when you’re at home, it’s important to keep sheds and garages locked. Replace any rusty or weak padlocks, keep keys out of sight, and consider covering windows so valuable items can’t easily be seen from outside.
• Avoid storing high-value items where possible Sheds are often designed for basic garden storage and can be more vulnerable to break-ins than the main home, particularly if made from lightweight materials. If you do store expensive items such as bikes, tools or golf clubs, make sure they are securely stored and sheds are firmly anchored to their base.
• Improve security around outbuildings Motion-activated security lights, alarms or CCTV can help deter opportunistic thieves. For bikes, consider installing a ground or wall anchor inside so they can be securely chained in place.
• Keep valuable belongings out of sight Try not to leave expensive equipment visible through windows or open doors. Marking tools and bikes with forensic marking kits or using other property marking methods can also help deter theft and improve the chances of recovering stolen items.
• Check policy limits and requirements Insurance policies may include limits or conditions for items stored in sheds and outbuildings, and cover may depend on there being signs of forcible entry. If unsure, it’s worth reading your policy documents or contacting your insurer directly.

Find out more about how to protect sheds and outbuildings from burglars.

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References:

^1. _{Value refers to 2025 Aviva Home Theft claims where description references ‘shed, outbuilding, garage, cabin, workshop’. [↑]}

^2. _{The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative respondents (+16), of which 1,266 have a shed or outbuilding. The data was collected between 11.03. 2026 – 16.03.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles. [↑]}

^3. _{Value refers to 2024 Aviva Home Theft claims where description references ‘shed, outbuilding, garage, cabin, workshop’. [↑]}

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