Don’t fall victim as burglaries boom over festive season

Christmas time is a prosperous time for burglars – with pricey presents neatly tucked under the tree and a higher chance of homeowners being out visiting family, down the pub with friends or undertaking last minute shopping, homes are a treasure trove for thieves.

While burglary figures have revealed a sharp decrease as a whole – there were a total of 245,317 house burglaries recorded in 2014/15, compared with 519,265 in 2004 – Christmas is becoming a popular time for ‘Grinch-like’ criminals to strike.

Figures from Halifax Home Insurance revealed a 25 per cent rise in burglary claims last December, compared to the festive period in 2014.

The total number of claims in December last year reached 1,382, with an average of nearly 50 claims made each day over the Christmas period, according to Halifax.

Homeowners are being urged to stay on guard against would-be Grinches eyeing up present hauls stored in homes across the country.

In the lead up to Christmas, homes are more likely to be left unattended while parties are in full swing and the mad rush to buy last minute presents is underway. 

At the same time, they are more likely to contain a higher value of contents in the form of gifts ready to be unwrapped on Christmas Day, including gadgets and jewellery which can be easily pocketed.

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, said: ‘It’s not just Macaulay Culkin who will be Home Alone this Christmas. Presents across the country will be left unattended, leaving homes more open to thieves on the prowl during the festive season. 

‘With many people out at Christmas drinks parties not returning home until late at night, it can provide the perfect opportunity for thieves to slip into houses unnoticed and have their way with the rich pickings, likely to be made up of the latest gadgets and expensive accessories.

‘We’re advising customers to leave a light on, remember to secure all doors and windows properly and avoid leaving gifts on show to avoid being a victim of theft this Christmas.’

Halifax Insurance automatically increases its home contents cover by an extra £3,000 over the Christmas period, while other providers have similar offers.

For instance, Aviva, the Post Office and Santander increase their contents sum by 10 per cent automatically during December and the run-up to Christmas

Christmas is the peak time for burglaries

Police launched a two month campaign in October urging members of the public to see their property from a burglar's point of view in a bid to stop the traditional rise in burglary offences over the autumn and winter months.

Detective Superintendent Ray Blythe, said: ‘With all the excitement of the Christmas period, people can become a bit lax with their home security – at the very time when they need to be the most careful.

‘Police forces nationally tend to see an increase in burglary offences over the festive period with the long dark nights and people buying expensive gifts to give to their loved ones.’

According to the Home Office, domestic burglary actually peaks to 11 per cent above trend in January, which it says may be a reporting/recording effect. 

Victims that have left their homes vacant over the Christmas period may not discover that they have been burgled until January, when they then report the crime to the police.

Alternatively, the January peak in domestic burglary may be due to burglars resting over Christmas, then having to over-compensate in January when there are also more new goods in homes to steal. 

Another theory is that there is more need to burgle in January following the excesses of Christmas. 

The table from the Home Office below shows how November, December and January is the peak time for burglary:

Top tips for keeping your home safe at Christmas

Don’t leave gifts on show

It’s always nice to see presents under the tree but if the tree is near a window, the gifts offer 
would-be burglars with a tempting invite. If you do keep presents under the tree, try to keep them out of sight from the window. Leaving something in a branded bag can give a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘window shopping.’

Leave a light on

As it gets dark earlier, thieves have more time to target homes. Keeping lights on when you’re not home makes it harder for them to identify which properties have people still in them. Draw the curtains and set a timer for your lights so that they go on and off in different rooms using energy saving bulbs to suggest that people are in.

Everything must go

Just as you wouldn’t leave a handbag on display in your car while out shopping for gifts or in the sales, don’t advertise any shopping left in the car. Keep more expensive items at the bottom of the boot and ensure that there’s a parcel shelf hiding your bags. Aim to park in well-lit areas and secure car parks.

Lock your windows

Outdoor Christmas lights are often powered from a power source inside the house and fed out through a window. Always double check that all doors and windows are locked before leaving the house and don’t forget about any windows that have wires running out of them.

Delivery management

Online shopping is more and more commonplace – according to Royal Mail, two billion items were delivered over the Christmas period last year. Never give permission for presents delivered to be left outside in a visible place as it provides a clear signal to would-be burglars that nobody is home. Wherever possible, have them delivered somewhere you know they’ll be safe such as a neighbour, relative or workplace if it is permitted.

Advertising

Don’t leave discarded boxes of expensive items (e.g. TVs, iPads, desktop computers) outside the house after Christmas. They simply advertise what’s been added to your home contents and enable burglars to work out where they should focus their attention.   

Christmas carols

Although you might be in the Christmas spirit, be as wary as you normally would of visitors you don’t know. A Christmas carol singer might have the voice of an angel but could be a bogus caller, taking the opportunity to scope out your security.

C & L Windows and Conservatories Ltd

65, Seymour Road,
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL1 5PT

01452 526028

www.candlwindows.co.uk