Bikes, plant pots and garden gnomes were among the items that had been stolen from the gardens of homeowners, surveyed for a a new poll.

Four in 10 of the 2,000 adults questioned said they had had items stolen from their garden. and those who had been victims of theft have had three belongings stolen on average.

Other possessions to go missing from front and backyards included garden tools, solar lights and outdoor furniture - along with internet orders left outside by delivery people.

And around six in 10 admitted they worried about their property when they were not there and one in 10 said they did not feel safe in their homes.

"A significant number of people have experienced theft or damage to possessions outside their home, with everything from bicycles to garden tools to plants being targeted," said Tom Guy, global product director at Centrica Hive which commissioned the poll. Sadly, even the much beloved gnome is under threat.

The research also found more than a third of respondents believed the risk of garden theft and damage has increased during the past decade.

And almost half felt it was more important now to secure driveways and garden areas than ever before.

But despite having concerns over home security, 62 per cent had not attempted to make their property more secure.

Almost a quarter said they ‘just haven’t got round to it’ and one in 10 have simply been "too busy."

In a bid to protect their neatly mowed lawns, pristine flowers and beloved ornaments, 45 per cent said they had looked into buying a security camera for inside or outside their home.