14th October, 2021

The clocks always go back on the final Sunday of October as British Summer Time comes to an end at 2am.

Although it happens every year, some people are still caught unawares by the change, and, as the days get shorter and the nights draw in, others are caught out by opportunist criminals.

Burglaries increase noticeably during the winter months and tend to spike at Christmas, as figures from UK Crime Stats show.  And with burglaries comes insurance claims - which we know brings additional hassle during what is an already traumatic time.

With the looming time change in mind, we’ve put together some prevention advice to help beat the burglars and keep your home and your family safe this winter.

1) Making it look as if your home is occupied is an easy way to deter criminals – so always remember to lock up and leave the lights on after the clocks go back.

2) Never leave your keys and valuables within view or reach of windows, letterboxes or cat-flaps, as thieves can fish them.

3) Always lock your front door from inside – especially UPVC front doors that have handles, as they are often left unlocked when people are in their house.

4) Check your UPVC or Euro cylinder door lock to see if it is snap resistant. It should be stamped with a three star Kite Mark.

If it isn’t, it might be worth upgrading the lock for maximum protection.

5) Close, and ideally lock, all windows when you’re not in the room – around one in four burglaries still happen because doors have been left unlocked or windows left open.

6) Cancel newspapers and milk if you’re going away and ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your property.

7) As the darker nights approach, always put garden tools and DIY equipment away in your shed, storage cupboard or garage, and ensure they’re securely locked up.

8) Check your outside lighting is in good working order and replace any faulty equipment. It’s also worth checking the batteries in torches and smoke alarms.

9) Keep shrubbery and hedges at the front of your house pruned so there’s no cover for a burglar to work unseen. This also gives your neighbours a chance to spot something suspicious.

10) Mark your personal items with your postcode and house number - this makes stolen items easier to trace and positively identify as yours.

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** Please note that the above information has been gathered through secondary research. The information provided is not based on our opinion. You should seek further guidance and information before making an informed decision.