Households urged to protect their presents

Households should take steps to ensure that their valuable gifts are not stolen this Christmas, one expert has suggested.

Mark Searles, managing director of retail at Zurich, said that there are simple things people can do to help minimise the risk of becoming victims of burglars during the festive period.

Putting presents under the tree may look nice, but keeping them out of sight is a must to prevent opportunistic thieves, he warned.

Households should also look to put their lights on timers to give the impression that their homes are occupied and to check that their home insurance provides adequate cover, Mr Searles recommended.

David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, recently suggested that winter is an ideal time to make improvements to household security .

According to the expert, the dark nights provide opportunities for criminals looking break into properties and presents under the tree can be all too tempting for burglars.