Don't let dark nights push you into burglars' traps

By Robert Adungo 20.02.12

Many Brits are concerned about the effect of the long nights on their property. Read on to see how you can ward off burglars and have peace of mind.

Britain is currently experiencing short days and long nights - and will for several more weeks to come - as the cold winter months slowly give way to spring and ultimately the equinox.

Research by Santander Insurance suggests many people cannot wait for this period to come or for days to be longer than nights because one-fifth of adults in the UK feel more at risk of burglary during the dark winter months than at any other time of the year.

Their fears are not misplaced - 745,000 burglaries were reported in England and Wales between 2010 and 2011, which represents an increase of 14% on the previous year's (651,000), according to the British Crime Survey.

Although the fear of being burgled is countrywide, people in the north of England feel more vulnerable (29%) in winter compared to those in other regions. By comparison, only 16% of Scots feel more at risk from burglary in winter.

Darkness and adverse weather

According to Steve Burton, head of marketing at Santander, people's concerns are heightened during winter because in addition to the long dark nights, this is also when the country experiences harsher weather conditions.

"People are concerned about a wide variety of risks from burglary to the effects of adverse weather or their ability to pay the bills during the winter, but in some instances there are steps that can be taken to reduce the level of risk," he says.

"We would urge people to ensure their homes and cars are adequately protected by security measures and also by comprehensive insurance cover, so that at least they have some peace of mind that they are financially protected should something bad happen to them."

Beat the burglars

Most burglaries are down to opportunity as many thieves prefer easy jobs that are quick to carry out, eliminating the chances of them being spotted or foiled. You can minimise the odds of being burgled by making it harder for opportunistic crooks to strike you.

Ensure all accessible windows and doors are not only shut properly at all times, but secured with safety locks as well, whether you are indoors or out and about. Where possible, close curtains and set timer lights, especially if going out at night as this gives the impression that someone is home.

You should also ensure there are no items such as ladders out in your garden or in an unlocked shed that burglars could use to aid their break-in.

And if you're off on holiday to get some winter sun, it's also a good idea to cancel any deliveries you have such as newspapers or milk and ensure your valuables are out of view.

Neighbours and technology

Everybody loves good neighbours, especially if they can be called upon to keep an eye on the house while you are away. Ask a friend or neighbour to do this for you and offer to do the same when they are away.

Your informal neighbourhood watch arrangements could reap rewards by saving you a lot of potential nuisance while building your relations. And while on the subject of watching and deterrents, why not install a monitored security alarm system for year-round effectiveness? Security lighting can also help to act as a deterrent.

This and some of the other measures outlined here could even end up saving you a lot of money in the form of a reduction in your monthly home insurance premiums.

Have adequate cover

Although these suggestions may foil the typical burglar, a determined crook could still succeed in breaking into your home, in which case nothing but a comprehensive contents insurance policy would suffice.

Ensure your home is adequately covered because if misfortune or a resolute criminal does strike, then you want to be able to replace any stolen or damaged items as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible.

There is a wide range of home insurance products on the market, each of which offers different levels of protection, so ensure you shop around to get the very best deal that suits your individual requirements.

Remember, it is not about price - cheapest may not be best - but about how well the insurance meets your needs, financial and otherwise. Always read the terms and conditions carefully. You can compare a range of home insurance policies at homeinsurance.co.uk.