Do robot mowers get stolen, and how can I protect mine?

They can be. A robot mower is valuable, portable and left outside on its own for hours, so it's an obvious target, particularly on a front lawn. There's no reliable UK theft data for robot mowers specifically, but the risk is real enough that most manufacturers now build in several layers of protection.

What to look for:

• A PIN code so a stolen mower can't be used or reset without it. This is standard on most models.
• A lift or tamper alarm that sounds if the mower is picked up.
• GPS tracking over 4G, so you can see where it is in the app. This needs an active data connection, and on many mowers the data is free for a period and then a paid add-on.
• Geofence alerts that warn you if the mower leaves its map.

Practical steps help too. Register the serial number with the manufacturer and with Immobilise, keep the mower in the back garden or a lockable space when you're away, and avoid scheduling it on a front lawn when nobody's home. Check that your home insurance covers a mower left in the garden, as some policies limit cover for items outdoors.

Tracking helps recover a mower, but it doesn't stop a determined thief. Our theft and security guide explains each feature and its limits.