Insurance - Wishing you a burglar-free Xmas

The spirit of Christmas could turn decidedly frosty this year as a new report reveals how thieves across the UK are planning their top festive season steals.

Research amongst convicted burglars, by home insurance company, Zurich, reveals that many thieves eye up their own wish list of Christmas must-haves, with cash and credit cards set to top the list this year. Close behind are laptops, digital cameras, jewellery and sought-after games consoles such as the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3.

Nearly eight in ten former perpetrators see the Christmas season as the perfect opportunity for home theft - properties being at their most vulnerable over the festive season with householders out socialising and visiting friends and families.

The poll showed that thieves can make good money from selling on stolen goods, with 84% saying they're easy to pass on because they're new, and 82% claiming that mint condition hot goods are often sold on to new people the very same day.

While letting their hair down, homeowners are also letting their guard down when it comes to yuletide security, with lax behaviour largely to blame, say ex-lags. 84% claim that householders make it easy for burglars to get into their homes and 93% actually leave expensive items in plain view, making them a more obvious target.

Zurich has made some on-line advice available at www.merryriskmas.co.uk , which highlights simple home security risks people should be aware of this Christmas. Visitors to the site will get a feel for what burglars look for; such as the presents lying round the tree, the empty boxes outside the front door as well as some fire risks like the decorations round the fireplace.

Mark Searles, Managing Director, Retail at Zurich said, "For some thieves, the festive season is like a gift on a platter. They've told us how Christmas and the New Year are key times for them to make the most of everyone else's generosity, but many people just don't think of the risk.

"Make sure you put lights on a timer to make the home appear occupied. It's also a good idea to check your home insurance cover as some policies, including Zurich's, offer automatic additional cover over December and January to account for the increased value of all those new presents."