A good insurance policy 'is the best defence against thieves'

American Express Insurance Services has warned homeowners they need to make sure their garden contents are afforded adequate insurance cover given the increasing value of equipment earmarked for outside usage.

A survey of 10,000 American Express customers found that gardens are morphing into "outside dining rooms, kitchen and playgrounds", with garden furniture, ornaments and toys coming at ever-higher prices.

This is especially worrying given that insurers estimate that one in seven garden items purchased will go missing.

Accordingly, Joanne Field, marketing manager at American Express Insurance Services, believes that homeowners should check to ensure their contents are fully insured - especially if they are not locked up at night, which some policies do not cater for.

"We recognise that it is not practical for homeowners to lock away their garden furniture and equipment each night," she said.

"The best defence against thieves is a good insurance policy and we offer our customers comprehensive protection."

American Express Home Insurance provides for up to £1,000 worth of cover for anything which falls inside the garden fence except for living plants.