Worrying about your garden bench being stolen can ruin the pleasure of your outdoor space. Fortunately, several effective methods can deter thieves and secure your furniture. The best approach often depends on your bench's design and your patio or garden setup.
For permanent installation, consider setting the bench legs in concrete footings. Dig holes, place the legs, and fill with concrete. This is highly effective but not easily moved. A similar method involves using ground anchors or earth screws—metal stakes driven deep into the ground with brackets to bolt the bench legs to.
For a less permanent but sturdy solution, use commercial anti-theft anchors. These are plates or cables that screw into the ground or a solid surface, with a locking mechanism to secure the bench. You can also use a heavy-duty security chain, passed through the bench structure and around a fixed object like a large tree or buried anchor, secured with a quality padlock.
For wooden benches on a patio, large L-brackets or coach screws can fasten the frame directly to a solid stone or concrete surface. Adding weight, like sand-filled legs, can also make a bench less appealing to lift quickly.
Ultimately, the goal is to make stealing your bench more trouble than it's worth. A visible lock or robust fixture is often enough to encourage a thief to move on. Combining methods, like anchoring and adding a security sticker, provides the best protection for your peaceful garden retreat.