Use Prickly Plants to Prevent Crime

Thorny Hedges to Deter Intruders and Would-be Thieves

Jul 15, 2008

Police advise householders which bush & shrub species make the best security barriers against intruders.

Northamptonshire Police have a few surprising words of advice for the nervous householder who is scared of intruders on their property. Rather than build walls around yourself, which can make one feel like a prisoner, plant some prickly bushes as hedges or at strategic locations.

Opportunist Thefts

It is a fact that most crimes of theft are committed by opportunists. According to police security experts there are three conditions that make a property attractive to the thief, i.e. there is:

The more we can deter the criminal from wanting to make the decision to enter our property, the safer we will be.

Preventing the Opportunist

Preventing unwanted visitors entering your property is what one needs to achieve, but nobody wants their home looking like a prison surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, and that is not necessary. Mother nature provides an environmentally friendly, attractive and particularly effective alternative - the prickly bush.

Hedges

Pricky plants make very effective deterrent hedges. The advice is not to go for height at the front of the house; however, as one needs to maintain visibility to the street where possible. A high hedge can be great for an opportunist theft as they are confident of not being seen while they are up to no good.

Suitable plants can also be positioned strategically in order to deter people climbing drainpipes or to protect vulnerable (e.g. ground floor) windows. Prickly plants act as a psychological and physical barrier intended to make your property a less suitable target to the opportunistic thief.

Which Shrub or Bush Species to Choose

The obvious choices for hedging include things like the hawthorne (Crataegus) and the holly (Ilex). However there are some very attractive plants that can be used to both secure and beautify the garden at the same time.

The Berberis

There are many low growing species of berberis that will fit the bill. For example, Buxifolia nana naturally grows to 18” (.5m) whilst Calliantha usually reaches no more that 3 feet (1m). Berberis caldidula will obtain 4-5 feet (1.5m). Gagnepainii grows to a maximum of 4 feet (1.25m).

The berberis hedge will need to be clipped annually just like a hawthorne hedge, ideally after flowering.

Mahonia

This is an ornamental shrub with rather attractive whorls of prickly leaves. It bears very attractive flowers which are often pleasantly scented. One suggested variety for hedging or strategic placement is Bealii which grows to 4-5 feet (1.5m).

Pyrocanthus

Pyrocanthus, also known as the Fire Thorn, is another attractive prickly bush that can be planted up against a wall or beneath a window. The brightly coloured berries create winter colour and also offer food for the garden birds.

Gunnera

Gunnera is the largest of the rhubarb family of plants. It has vicious spikes on its stems and grows in quite impenetrable clumps up to 6 foot tall (2m). In northern climes it is an herbaceous plant that dies back during the winter so this may affect its usefulness as a barrier plant.

Rambling Rose

Any of the vigorous rambling roses species will make a good, thick and impenetrable hedge. Rosa Rugosa has the advantage of bright pink flowers and large orange hips that will remain on the plant throughout the winter. The rose hedge requires annual clipping to keep it in shape. Another species that is suitable is Rambling Rector. This has a white flower.

For more advice on securing your property, please look on the website of Northamptonshire Police.

The copyright of the article Use Prickly Plants to Prevent Crime in Home Management is owned by Christine Fadhley. Permission to republish Use Prickly Plants to Prevent Crime in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.