Make your Home Secure this Christmas ...

Unfortunately, house burglars view this time of year a little differently. For them, it's a time of opportunity to burgle your home for cash, credit cards and all the new gifts and easily sold valuables.

Here are a few tips of what they look for when shopping for a house with a view to carrying out a burglary. Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy the Christmas break without incident and give you peace of mind:

• Install a burglar alarm and make sure it is visible ... this is a good deterent
• Always fit good quality locks on windows, a burglar is less likely to break in if they have to smash a window
• If your front and back doors aren't secure, then neither is your home. Make sure doors and frames are strong and have adequate locks. Fit hinge bolts to stop doors being pulled off their hinges. This is especially important for flats, as the front door is the most vunerable part of the home
• If you go out, even for a short time, make sure you lock up and remember, if you can get into your house without keys, so can a burglar
• Always keep keys away from windows and doors and keep and valuables and Christmas presents away from sight
• Fit a 'spy hole' to your door so you can see who is calling
• Fit a chain to your door and always use it when answering the door
• Put timer switches on your TV and lights so it looks like you are at home when you're out
• Beware of "bogus callers"... always obtain identification
• Don't forget to cancel any deliveries such as milk and papers if you go on holiday
• If you're not going to be around for several days, ask a friend or neighbour to clear post and newspapers from your doorway and keep check of your home
• Never leave your key under the mat or in a flower pot, this is the first place a thief would look, instead let a trusted neighbour have a spare key
• Always keep keys away from doors and windows, including your car keys
• If you've recently moved to a new house, consider having the locks changed

• Make sure your garage and shed are secure as these can be full of expensive equipment such as tools and golf clubs. Invest in some strong padlocks
• Don't leave ladders in the garden, it will only make a thief's job easier
• Check gates and fences are sturdy. It is a good idea to have a padlocked gate fitted to a side passage, preventing entry to the back of the house
• Avoid piling up empty gift boxes outside from your new TV, DVD or a computer, especially at Christmas time, this is a big give-away as to what is inside your home. Take a trip to the local dump
• And be aware, after a burglary, the chances of it happening again are increased to steal any replacements.