Thieves are often on the look-out for homes that look empty, particularly during holiday-times, as they know a lot of people go away. Follow our advice to help prevent your home from being a victim of robbery.

• Make your home look like someone is living in it, e.g. don't close your curtains. In daytime this shows your house is empty. Also, use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights and radios on when it goes dark. You can do this even if you are just going out for the evening
• Cancel any newspaper or milk deliveries
• Use the Royal Mail's “keepsafe” service – they keep your mail for up to 2 months while you're away. Mail sitting on your doorstep is a sign that you are away
• Trusted neighbours may be able to help you by collecting your post, opening and closing curtains and they could park their car on your driveway
• Avoid discussing holiday plans where strangers may hear details of your absence from home
• Try not to take a taxi to the airport. If you do, use a taxi company you can rely on, don't discuss your holiday plans and make it sound like you have a house-sitter, whether you do or not
• Cut the lawns and trim back any plants that thieves could hide behind
• Leave important documents and valuable items with other family members or a bank. Alternatively lock them in a safe
• Avoid discussing holiday plans on social networking sites - if your posts are publicly visible, burglars can use any information you post on there to their advantage.
• Do not put your home address on your luggage when you are travelling to your holiday destination. A house number and postcode will suffice if you want to label your luggage
• If you normally leave valuable bicycles or similar items in your shed, consider putting them in the house
• Make sure that you lock all outside doors and windows and set your burglar alarm if you have one