Former burglar reveals 7 ways to prevent break-ins over Christmas

By William On Dec 12, 2022

With Christmas fast approaching, people across Britain will soon have their houses full of gifts and treats for their loved ones.

But a UK insurance company has suggested there is an even higher risk of theft during the holidays this year, with theft claims up 4% in 2022 compared to 2021, LV= General Insurance reported.

Last year, bicycles accounted for 45 percent of thefts, while audio and video equipment accounted for 10 percent and tools for 9 percent.

Here, LV= has joined forces with former thief turned security expert Michael Fraser to provide tips on how to prevent a robbery this holiday season.

The expert said: “Double check that your calendar isn’t readable to strangers looking inside. If it’s in plain sight, burglars can figure out the exact dates you’ll be away from home, so move it out of sight from window”. (stock photo)

1. DON’T LET THE CHRISTMAS CARDS GET YOU

2. KEEP YOUR VACATION PLANS A SECRET

Michael said: “Make sure you don’t leave bags and suitcases in plain sight – it’s an obvious sign that you’re leaving and the house will be empty.”

Keep them hidden under a bed until you leave for a trip.

“Also check to make sure your calendar isn’t readable to strangers looking inside. If it’s in plain sight, burglars can figure out the exact dates you’ll be away from home, so move it out of sight of a window.”

Michael said: ‘At Christmas, we are used to receiving more mail than usual, as our friends and family send out festive cards.

“But by tossing your envelopes in the trash, thieves could easily access your name and address at a quick glance. If they manage to get their hands on these details, they can clone your identity.

“Be sure to tear up and destroy all envelopes and packaging before throwing them into the wheelie bins.”

He continued: ‘A floor covered with letters and Christmas cards is an obvious sign to a burglar that you’re missing. Consider adding a cage to your mailbox, as this will help hide your mail while you’re away, as well as prevent fishing in the mailbox.

“Mailbox fishing is a very popular tactic in which thieves look through mailboxes to see if owners have left their car keys in plain sight, then use a fishing pole to retrieve them and steal the parked car. outside”.

3. DO NOT PLACE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE IN FRONT OF A WINDOW

The former thief said: “You should avoid putting your Christmas tree in front of a window, as it gives would-be thieves a clear view of any presents.”

“Everyone knows that a stack of presents under a Christmas tree tells thieves that there is an opportunity to get some potential goodies.

Christmas tree lights are also a good way for a burglar to know if you’re inside or not, so consider having them on a timer, but make sure you change the time every day, so the burgers don’t follow any patterns.

‘Don’t forget to keep your stockings out of sight too, as these also advertise to thieves that there are gifts to steal inside your home. You can close the blinds up, instead of down, to prevent people from looking in.

4. WRAP YOUR GIFTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

“Wrap your gifts as soon as you’ve bought them to prevent people from knowing what’s inside,” said the security expert (file photo)

AND ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK YOUR LOCKS

The expert said: ‘Make sure you have double locked and checked that everything is secure before you leave your house.

“Many people make the small mistake of not double checking their rear doors and windows, which is a key target for thieves.

“Thieves just look for things that are easy to break. Remove tables and chairs from gardens, as they help burglars climb into your property, especially if a small upstairs bathroom window has been left open.

“Other things, like cat flaps, weaken the door area, as burglars will tend to kick the door in, so make sure you have strong locks and extra cat flap security in your home.”

“Wrap your gifts as soon as you’ve bought them to prevent people from knowing what’s inside,” the security expert said.

“Unwrapped gifts are much more likely to be stolen in a robbery as they can instantly determine value. Thieves don’t have time to unwrap gifts to find out what’s inside.

‘Try to wrap gifts individually and avoid gift bags. Since most thieves leave a crime scene on foot, it will be more difficult for them to take many gifts at once. After all, thieves can only take what they can carry.

Added Michael: “In the day, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the festivities and leave the gifts piled downstairs by the tree after everyone has finished unwrapping, but they’re much safer upstairs.”

“Thieves don’t usually go upstairs because they feel trapped and it’s much easier to get in and out when they stay downstairs.”

5. DO NOT SHARE YOUR GIFTS ON SOCIAL NETWORKS

Michael warned: ‘Social media is a great giveaway when it comes to Christmas gifts and plans.

‘Don’t advertise gifts you’ve received on social media, especially if you don’t know or trust who can see what you’re posting.

“If you’re going on vacation or away over the festive period, it can be tempting to post photos online, but this also lets people know you’re not home.

“Please be careful who you share this knowledge with and if you do want to post, be sure to use your privacy settings where you can.”

6. DO NOT USE A ‘BEWARE OF DOG’ SIGN

The former burglar explained: ‘Many people think that having a ‘beware of dog’ sign outside their door will scare off burglars. “Instead, during the day it indicates that there is an animal on that property, moving around without an alarm set, which means there is an opportunity to enter without activating any devices” (file photo)

The former burglar explained: ‘Many people think that having a ‘beware of dog’ sign outside their door will scare off burglars.

“Instead, during the day, it indicates that there is an animal on that property, moving around without an alarm set, which means there is an opportunity to enter without activating any devices.

“Avoid using these signs in your house if they are not needed, because even if they want to avoid your dog, they can still get into other rooms or take your belongings out of the house.

‘Consider joining your local neighborhood watch, as this means others can keep an eye on your home while you’re away.

“Neighborhood watch signs can also be much more off-putting to burglars as who knows who’s watching.”

7. DO PARALLEL PARKING

“If you’re going away for Christmas this year and you’re leaving your car at home, there are a few things you can do to be safer,” Michael revealed.

‘If you have a garage, make sure you use it if any windows are blocked so no one can look inside. It is also worth having an additional alarm in your garage to prevent thieves from trying to break in.

“If your car is parked on the street, try to parallel park it, as thieves will see how a car is parked and whether it will be easy for them to maneuver.”