Families have been warned to think carefully about where they leave their Christmas presents this year after a reported spike in burglaries.
Winter is typically the prime time of year for callous thieves - and 74% of police forces have seen an increase in thefts between July 2021 and September 2021.
This is according to the latest Burglary Barometer from Churchill Home Insurance, which shows an estimated 65,000 burglaries were recorded in this time.
On average, this means 712 burglaries were committed every day - marking a 6% increase on the previous three months.
Cleveland (+34%), Suffolk (+30%) and Northern Ireland (+27%) reported the biggest increases quarter-on-quarter.
But despite the worrying rise, more than 31 million Brits say they’re unconcerned about being burgled.
Churchill is now warning how this attitude, coupled with rising crime rates, could create a perfect storm just as burglary rates typically peak.
The last three months of 2020 saw a 10% rise in the number of burglaries reported, and a 23% spike in the value of home insurance claims for stolen goods.
Help protect your home from burglaries this Christmas
Sarah Khan, head of Churchill home insurance, said: "While burglary rates have been creeping up throughout the year, as the UK returns to normal following the pandemic, our research suggests that Britons are not as concerned about being burgled as they once were.
"We would advise anyone who feels that their home is at risk to take action ahead of the festive period, which historically has a higher rate of burglary as criminals target presents and unoccupied properties."
Have you sadly fallen victim to a burglary and your home insurance won't pay out? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
- Don’t put presents under the tree: While it is traditional, putting your Christmas presents under the tree can also make homes look more appealing to burglars. You should either delay putting presents out or consider positioning the tree away from a window.
- Don't use cars as storage : Churchill claims 3.1 million Brits store presents in their cars. However, this puts them at risk to burglaries - so you should instead keep them hidden indoors.
- Keep your home lit up: Burglars tend to target dark and secluded areas where it is easier to gain access to a property without detection. Always ensure any such areas near your home are fitted with lights or CCTV.
- Make it look like you're home : Before you go on holiday, cancel any papers or milk you might have delivered so doesn’t look like you’re not home. You should also install timers which switch lights or radios on automatically.
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Be best protected: Sometimes being the victim of a burglary is just down to bad luck. If the worst does happen, it could be helpful to have an up-to-date, comprehensive home insurance policy that will replace any items stolen or damaged.
