Home insurance company warns over unlocked doors

More than two million UK residents leave their homes unlocked after leaving the property, a home insurance provider has warned.

Furthermore, 25 per cent of successful burglaries happen after thieves enter an unlocked door – which could invalidate a home insurance policy, Halifax warns.

UK residents should also lock the doors when at home, the home insurance provider states, as 17 million adults leave doors unlocked while in the house, although 55 per cent of incidents occur while residents are present.

Vicky Emmott, senior underwriter at Halifax home insurance, commented: Millions of Brits still live in the past.

Householders should be aware that leaving a home unlocked when it’s unoccupied could invalidate a home insurance policy – leaving the homeowner to pick up the pieces alone.

Ms Emmott adds that locking doors is an effortless action and provides a strong deterrent to a thief.

Halifax's comments echo those of Tesco home insurance, which recently warned that 80 per cent of UK residents are potentially putting their homes at risk by leaving windows open through the summer months.