Thieves are getting themselves into hot water but perhaps not in the way police would like.
Britain is suffering a rising number of hot tub thefts, with people creeping into gardens and stealing the pools.
In one case, thieves used a wheelie bin to smuggle a 700-litre inflatable pool out of a garden after emptying it of water.
The crime wave follows a surge in demand for inflatable hot tubs, which can cost from £500 to £3,500. Online searches for the pools jumped by 1,000 per cent last year, according to eBay.
Britain’s biggest insurer said it had seen a surge in home insurance claims related to hot tubs. Aviva said that deflated hot tubs were often stolen from garages and outbuildings but some thieves had taken them directly from customers’ gardens.
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Sarah Poulter, from Aviva, said: “Put away your hot tub if it’s not going to be used for a while — and keep it safe and secure. In spite of their bulk, hot tubs do get stolen.” Last year, police in Yorkshire warned locals of a series of hot tub thefts.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said: “Anybody who has been victim of these thefts please report it to the police. We will investigate it by checking for CCTV, witnesses and any other inquiries. Please do not take matters into your own hands and allow police to investigate this.”
The British and Irish Hot Tub Association has established a “national hot tub theft register” to reunite victims with their hot tubs should they be found.
Retailers said that demand for hot tubs had been huge over the past year and they were no longer seen as the preserve of swingers. John Lewis is now selling six different varieties with plans to add a further two because demand has been so strong.
Ian Ellis, an outdoor living buyer at the company, said: “Inflatable hot tubs are a brand new category for us as we know from feedback that our customers are keen to add a spa to their outdoor space.”
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Aviva said it had also seen a year-on-year increase of 188 per cent in accidental damage claims. The most common claims are for punctures from jewellery or damaged items such as mobile phones that have been dropped in the water. Kelly Whittington, property claims director for Aviva, said: “While it’s great that people are enjoying themselves at home, we’d encourage them to take care when using and storing their hot tubs.”