Homeowners are being advised to make sure their property is secure when the clocks go back this Sunday (October 27th).
Halifax Home Insurance has released new figures to highlight the cost of a burglary during the winter – suggesting thieves are more likely to strike this time of year as they take advantage of longer nights.
Last year, the company paid out nearly £13 million because of claims relating to winter break-ins – a figure which was 21 per cent higher than that seen during between April and September.
The average cost-per-claim was £1,746, which again was an increase of 14 per cent compared with incidents which occurred in the summer months.
Senior claims manager Martyn Foulds said: “The cover of darkness makes life easier for petty thieves looking for an easy target, so we are reminding homeowners that a few simple steps can go a long way to avoiding the stress and inconvenience a burglary brings.”
Halifax’s advice ranges from keeping doors and windows locked even when in the home to investing in burglar deterrents like a dog or security lights.