According to Tesco Home Insurance, as the days start to become longer and the nights shorter there is a need for consumers to secure their homes from opportunistic thieves. And as the weather becomes warmer many Britons may well wish to get back into their gardens and begin planting seeds and plants. However, if doing so the insurance firm advised people to take security concerns into account and tend to their garden in a way that will deter criminals from compromising the security of their homes.

Gardeners were advised to fit prickly plants and bushes, such as holly and roses, underneath their window sills to prevent trespassers gaining easy entrance. Meanwhile, the financial services firm recommended that the laying of gravel in pathways as it can create a loud noise when walked upon will put off prospective criminals. Making sure dustbins are kept away from windows, skylights and other potential entrances was also put forward as a means of improving safety features.

Budding Alan Titchmarshes and Charlie Dimmocks were also advised to prune any low-hanging tree branches to cut off any easy access routes to a home. In addition, ensuring sheds and garages are kept secure and setting up security lights in vulnerable parts of a property were recommended. Fitting loose trellises to fences and walls around back gardens was also suggested, as such structures can prove to be too unstable for people to climb over. Ideal plants to grow along such parts of a home were revealed to include Firethorn, Sea Buckthorn and Colletia.

However, by not taking steps to protect their property it may be possible that consumers who have been the target of thieves find that they have to meet the cost of replacing items and repairing their homes themselves. This could impinge upon their capacity to meet other areas of financial demands such as personal loans, credit cards and mortgage repayments.

Allan Burns, head of Tesco Home Insurance, stated: "Now is a good time to raise awareness of how to improve home security by using the environment outside your home. Many burglaries are carried out by opportunists, so by making it difficult, you can reduce your chances of them even trying."

Mick Kelly, manager of neighbourhoodwatch, added: "As the clocks go forward our message is take steps now to prevent British Summer Crime. Police figures show that over half of all break-ins occur from the back of the house. Now is the time to get out into the garden and make sure your fencing has stood up to the winter gales."

For those consumers looking to improve their garden and bolster the security of their home as the warmer months begin to set in, taking out a homeowner loan may be advisable. By applying for a home loan, borrowers may be able to afford the cost of various plants and shrubs, in addition to security features such as lights and gates quickly and effectively. Such a loan may leave them with affordable repayments to make each month.

Furthermore, a homeowner loan can be of assistance to people looking to get their property repaired following a natural disaster. After the 5.3 Richter scale earthquake of last month, Abbey pointed out that thousands of people may attempt to make claims on their home insurance and that the potential cost of getting a house back on track could be "staggering".