White Stores Warn Business & Home Owners To Be Vigilant Against Outdoor Furniture Thieves

WICKFORD, U.K. - April 24, 2015 - PRLog -- Online retailer White Stores (www.whitestores.co.uk) are issuing a warning to home owners and businesses such as cafes, bars, restaurants, spas, hotels and sports clubs to be vigilant against thieves stealing their outdoor furniture during the spring and summer months.

These crafty criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods, including the unashamed impersonation of staff members, to steal valuable items such as armchairs, dining sets, daybeds, BBQs and sun loungers left outside in the garden, patio or balcony areas of commercial and residential properties.

Last month, thieves stole a large amount of valuable rattan garden furniture, including 20 dining tables and around 100 dining chairs, from a prestigious wedding and conferencing venue in Belper, Derbyshire. Local police believe these stolen goods, worth several thousand pounds, would have required a lorry or vehicle of similar size to haul away.

"One of our customers, an award-winning hotel on the south coast of England, had to replace eight of their rattan sun loungers this month, costing £1596.00, after thieves posing as staff members stole them during a busy Sunday lunchtime," says James Whiteley, founder and managing director of White Stores. "It just goes to prove that these brazen outdoor furniture thieves can strike at any time. White Stores would like to warn our customers, businesses and the public at large to be extra vigilant, and take all available measures to protect their garden and patio furniture from theft."

According to the British police's official crime prevention advice at https://www.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/burglary/, homes and businesses should:

* Ensure side gates are locked

* Make sure the fences around the garden or patio are in good condition

* Install good outside lighting

* Mark your outdoor furniture with a postcode and house number - take photos of it too

* Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme

* Be aware of anyone acting suspiciously in your area

Spiky or prickly plants, high walls and gravel are useful deterrents to opportunist thieves as well. It is also advisable to check that your outdoor furniture has adequate insurance, in case you ever need to replace any stolen items.

If you have been offered any cheap outdoor garden furniture for sale under suspicious circumstances, you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Imagery:

A high-resolution photograph of the type of sun lounger recently stolen from White Stores' hotel customer is available for download from:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wnpoa9r8flrb2yh/white-stores-maze-rattan-orlando-sunlounger-set.jpg

About White Stores:

Celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2015, White Stores are now one of the UK's largest independent online retailers of garden furniture and accessories. From al fresco dining sets and gazebos to Rattan sofas and American-style BBQ smokers, we are able to offer our customers huge savings on a vast range of outdoor living products. The friendly and knowledgeable team at White Stores are happy to answer any questions and help you decide on the perfect product for your garden, patio, conservatory or home. For more information, please shop online at http://www.whitestores.co.uk or visit our garden furniture showrooms in Wickford, Essex or Yarnton, Oxfordshire. We're open 7 days a week throughout the year.

White Stores, Unit 8, Capitol Industrial Centre, Fulmar Way, Wickford Business Park, Wickford, Essex SS11 8YW

Tel: 0333 1 235 235

E-mail: sales@whitestores.co.uk