Reformed burglars reveal 5 things they look for when targeting a home at Christmas

Ex-burglars have revealed the signs to look out for when storming a home around the holidays.

Anthony Neary, director of security retailer Safe.co.uk, has spoken to former offenders to reveal the five signs they look for.

While Anthony offered advice on how to protect your home, especially if you're traveling over the holidays.

Christmas is a perfect time for burglars thanks to the long dark nights, the number of deliveries and the amount of presents in homes.

Many properties also remain vacant over the period as people visit family or enjoy festivities. Police forces across the country are warning the public.

Social media posts

An ex-burglar explains: 'I used Facebook to see when people would be away, you wouldn't believe how many people post on social media about visiting family in a few days.'

Anthony states that social media can be harmful to anyone who is away.

He said: 'If you are on holiday or visiting family at Christmas, don't advertise that your house is empty.

'Wait until you get home to post photos with your loved ones, otherwise a burglar has plenty of time to plan his theft.

“This also applies to geotagging stories, because a thief can find out how far you are from home.”

Unlocked doors

Most burglars are opportunists who try doors in the hope that one will remain open.

One says: 'Lock your doors. It seems simple, but many people don't do that, especially when they are busy or stressed around Christmas.'

Anthony adds: 'Make sure all windows and external doors are closed and locked at night or when you are away.

'Putting mortise locks on doors and gates can also improve security as they are more difficult to tamper with. If your door has a letterbox, be careful where you keep your keys as crafty thieves have methods of extracting keys from the inside of the door, giving them full access to your home.'

Useful items left outside

Some burglars report using wheeled bins to gain entry into a home and one warns.

He said: 'Don't leave anything that a burglar can climb or move on to get into your home.'

Anthony recommends keeping your bins within your property so they cannot be used.

He said: 'Burglars can use skips to climb fences or walls, gaining access to your back garden, which not only allows them to gain access to your back door, but also allows them to steal property from sheds and garden bins that people can steal. may not think about securing.

'Thieves can also use your tools to break into your home. We recommend that you keep your bins behind a locked gate and use weatherproof padlocks to secure outdoor storage.'

Empty packaging

Many will be throwing away their product packaging in the coming weeks and one former burglar describes how this is encouraging them: 'Leaving empty boxes of high-end electronics outside your home will show any burglar who takes over your estate that you have a lot of valuables. ready to be taken.”

Anthony notes: 'Throwing away Christmas packaging is an advertisement for the new technology and devices you have.

'Even boxes of cheaper items left outside or in your bin can be used to their advantage and a burglar is likely to take their chance to take dozens of gifts and be gone in seconds. We recommend keeping gifts out of sight and breaking up empty boxes or taking them straight to the recycling centre.”

Outdoor lighting

An ex-burglar stated that outdoor lighting often deters them.

He said: 'Having lights that illuminate the driveway and garden, and not just the house, will eliminate blind spots for people to hide.'

Anthony says: 'A house in the dark can be attractive to a burglar as it looks empty, especially with the Christmas lights on.

'This makes it clear that the owner is sleeping or not at home. To deter or frighten burglars, security lights are an essential purchase for long nights and will alert you to any activity.

'It's also always a good idea to have extra security such as CCTV and burglar alarms, especially if you're away from home over the holidays.'

Detective Inspector John O'Driscoll, of Cheshire Police, said: 'Burglaries are a disturbing crime all year round, but even more so at Christmas…

'We urge you to remain vigilant and take advantage of advice and guidance in protecting your home from thieves.'