With millions of households planning to get away for the festive period, a home insurance provider has warned people to take precautions.
A study by Halifax Home Insurance revealed that 19 per cent of households intend travelling this Christmas, while a further one in ten expect to be away from their homes for up to two weeks.
Marty Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, said that criminals see the festive period as “rich pickings”.
“We are urging householders, especially those who plan to go away on holiday, to take measures to safeguard their home,” he explained.
There are practical measures that people can take to discourage burglars, such as installing an alarm or fitting timers on lights, Mr Foulds stated.
A recent survey by LV= discovered that expensive items, such as TVs, PCs and antiques, are visible from the street in 65 per cent of homes across the country.