What burglars are on the look out for at christmas

Careful with packaging

Aside from not even taking simple steps, like closing curtains or blinds to hide their belongings, nearly four out of ten (37%) homeowners also admit they leave the discarded packaging from expensive products outside their homes for recycling, in full view of potential burglars.

With millions of pounds worth of electronics expected to be brought in December, homeowners need to be particularly cautious about leaving this kind of evidence outside their homes.

Martin Milliner, Spokesperson for LV=, said "Thieves are much more likely to target your property if they can see items worth stealing and high value electronic items are just the kind of thing they are looking for."

"There is a temptation to leave curtains open in December, to show off Christmas trees and decorations. However we would urge home owners to take preventative measures especially in December by closing curtains or blinds to hide their belongings."

Here are a number of solid tips to help you protect your home:

• Keep all doors and windows locked to deter opportunist thieves.

• Fit a burglar alarm and make sure you fit an alarm siren box at the front and back of your home to act as a deterrent to intruders. If possible, the alarm should be connected to an alarm receiving centre (ARC).

• Fit security lanterns to your porch and floodlights in your garden. Any unwanted visitors will trigger the sensors, flooding the area with light.

• Plant thorny trees such as holly under vulnerable windows or low walls to deter entrance.

• Remove keys from locked windows and doors and keep them out of sight and out of reach in a safe place.

• When you go away on holiday, ensure you cancel your newspapers and milk and ask trusted neighbours to push through any mail that is left in your letterbox.

• Use an engraving pen to write your name / address or current driver's license number on your property. Burglars don't want marked merchandise because it is difficult to sell and it is evidence of guilt if they are caught.

• Don't leave items in your garden that could be used to break into your house, such as a garden spade.

• Don't leave ladders easily accessible in unlocked sheds. The thieves could use them to gain access to your first floor window, where the security may not be as good Wheelie bins could be used to climb over gates and fences, so try to keep these secure.

• Trellis works as a good anti-theft device on fences, as it will break under a thief's weight if they try to climb over it.

• Gravel paths or drives can put burglars off as it makes a noise when you walk on it.