Value of shed theft claims on the increase

• Aviva claims data reveals the average claim for theft from a shed and outbuilding is now £4,567¹ – a 9% increase year-on-year.
• Research shows more than one in four (27%) of shed and outbuilding owners experienced a break-in or attempted break-in.²
• Residents need to be vigilant as the research shows that more than half (56%) of sheds and outbuildings lack a basic lock and key.

It’s important your customers protect their homes and belongings, as new data reveals that the average claim for shed and outbuilding theft has increased from £4,205³ 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, garden tools and equipment are the most likely to be stored in sheds and outbuildings, followed by outdoor furniture and power tools².

The most commonly stored items in sheds and outbuildings include:

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

Tips to help your personal lines customers protect their sheds and outbuildings include:

• Always lock sheds and outbuildings - even when 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 your customers do store expensive items such as bikes, tools or golf clubs, make sure they’re 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.
   

^{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’.}