Police issue safety tips this Christmas

The festive period is a prime time for break-ins so police have issued some tips for keeping you and your home safe this Christmas.

1) Be careful at cash machines and when paying by card - shield your PIN at all times.

2) Park in a well-lit area or an attended car park – and remember to lock your vehicle. Do not leave valuables or Christmas presents in your car. If this is unavoidable, make sure they're out of sight.

3) For thieves, social media can be used to scout potential targets. If you usually publish your whereabouts during the holiday season – including any plans to be away from home – do think twice before posting this year, as you could be giving a potential burglar knowledge of when your house is going to be empty. Uploaded photos of pricey Christmas gifts can also be a problem. It's always worth double-checking your privacy settings on social channels and, where possible, keeping your profile private.

4) The Office for National Statistics reported in 2020 that windows were used to gain access in 30% of burglaries, so installing a few deadbolts and new window hinges could increase the security of your home. 1 in 7 burglars also walked straight through an unlocked door; where possible, it's worth keeping your doors locked even when you're at home.

5) If you're going out for the evening, you could use a plug timer on your lights to give the illusion of someone being at home.

6) You should also always ensure valuable items particularly christmas presents are out of sight.

7) Burglars know all of the best hiding places for spare keys, so don't put them under rocks, in flowerpots, or above door ledges. Instead, give the spare key to family or a trusted neighbour.

8 ) Many houses now have alarms; make sure yours is on if you have one, so it can be protecting your home when you are away or out for the evening, where possible.

9) Most electricals have a unique code, such as a serial number which can be used to register the item. Mobile phones have an IMEI number, which can be easily found by dialling *#06#.

10) If your gift doesn't have a unique identifier, there are several affordable marking kits available from the Immobilise store allowing the police to easily identify the owners of items they recover.