AS the temperatures drop, the chance of your house being burgled soars.
December and January are the worst months for robberies, with thieves targeting homes bursting with expensive Christmas gifts.
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There were over 275,000 break-ins reported in the past year, which was a 4 percent increase on the year before.
Anthony Neary, managing director at Safe Zone, has revealed the three top tips to keep your property protected this winter.
Installing outdoor lights is one of the most effective ways of deterring burglars, according to Anthony.
“December is the darkest month of the year, but the dark nights usually last right up until March,” he said.
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“In the UK, our darkest week is also a time when we fill our houses with new, expensive items – Christmas.”
Automatic lights set up at the front and back of the house are the most off-putting for thieves.
Another defence against uninvited visitors is to have your lights on a timer.
Seeing lights turned on in the evening will appear to the thief that people are home.
“Burglars typically work out whether someone is home or not by watching to see if lights are being turned on and off throughout the evening,” Anthony explained.
“They then target properties that are in darkness,” he said.
Finally, the last tip might seem simple but it’s a common slip-up victims make, and that is to keep valuables out of sight.
“In the festive season especially, homes are full of presents. Make sure they can’t be seen, wrapped or unwrapped, through a window,” Anthony said.
“A thief is much more likely to take the chance to steal tens of gifts when they know they can be gone in seconds.”
It’s also important to dispose of or hide empty boxes that could provide insight into the items in the house.
If there’s games console packaging stacked beside your wheelie bin, it’s like lighting your property up with a huge flashing sign.