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Cereal boxes, packets of pasta and toy boxes are the best places to hide valuables in your home, a panel of former burglars have revealed.
Sharing tips on how to keep your home safe and prevent burglary when on holiday, ex-offenders say Brits unsuccessfully try to hide their valuables in living room drawers and dressers, pots and pans and locked safes, which are not secured to the floor or wall.
Instead, they advised homeowners to hide anything of value in children’s bedrooms – which many burglars rule a no-go area – and under sofas.
The research was carried out by John Lewis Home Insurance via surveys and interviews with the help of St Giles Trust, which put the insurer in touch with six reformed former offenders with convictions for burglary.
A third of those questioned said during a break-in they would target identity documents including passports, driving licences, credit card and bank statements because of ‘the value associated with them’.
The research revealed that burglars can spend up to two months watching a house before burgling it – but would spend as little as five minutes inside before fleeing.
One former burglar said he targeted homes between 4pm to 5pm during the ‘school run’ when many houses were empty. Others chose night time, with one saying he’s prime time was 3am when most people were asleep.
Dr Claire Nee, Director of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at Portsmouth University, has interviewed hundreds of burglars to analyse patterns in offending. ‘Identity documents are very valuable at the minute due to identity theft for fraud and people trafficking,’ she says. ‘We also know from both our research and criminal statistics that burglars are going for small, valuable items –jewellery, electronics and cash.’
Household thefts can leave people emotionally affected, feeling vulnerable, and living with fear and with depression. Hopefully, by taking a few small steps, homeowners can reduce the chance of falling victim and have peace of mind.
How to keep home secure when going away
Hiding valuables
Lock up your valuables using a secure well-hidden safe, ensuring it is secured to the wall or floor. One former offender told John Lewis Home Insurance: ‘Most people have got a “bits and bobs” cupboard in their kitchen where they often keep their keys. Instead, I would hide my car and house keys in the food cupboards if I was going away – rice packets, cereal boxes. They are not going to go through all your food packets. DVD cases is another good place to hide valuables because they are harder to find.’
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Parcels
Parcel deliveries left on doorsteps are one of the biggest clues that someone is on holiday, the study found. Letters and leaflets sticking out of letterboxes and on doormats are also big giveaways that someone was away – even more so than leaving the lights on, having the curtains closed, or having no car on the driveway. Ask a friend or neighbour to move your post or use the Royal Mail Keepsafe service.
One burglar said: ‘The increase of online shopping has made it easier – if you’re walking down the road and see a parcel on a doorstep there is a good chance someone is not in.
‘I would suggest not ordering parcels if you won’t be around when they arrive and getting neighbours to check for parcel deliveries regularly while you’re away.’
Lights and curtains
When going away, keep curtains and blinds open but move expensive items out of view. The best room in the house to leave lights on is the hallway, half of those questioned revealed. But timer switches are deemed the best option because it creates a better illusion that someone is at home.
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The best deterrent
Using security cameras, including Smart doorbells with cameras controlled from your phone, is viewed as the best deterrent, even beating burglar alarms. Still, inform your neighbours that you are going away so they can keep an eye on your property.
Motion lights
Motion-detection security lights around the exterior of your house will turn on as soon as they sense movement. ‘Install these higher up on walls so criminals can’t reach up and break them,’ says Mike McGrail, Senior Product Manager at Swinton Insurance.
Bear in mind
‘Believe it or not, doggy doors and cat flaps can be used as an entry point for burglars. They’re seen as a weak point in the door and larger models can even be crawled through,’ says Izzy Schulman, Director at Keys4U. ‘Although CCTV is a proven deterrent, burglars will likely be scouting out your home for a while, looking for patterns of behaviour and potential hiding places like bushes or dark areas.’
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Join a Neighbourhood Watch
Watch schemes are an effective way of encouraging neighbours to look out for each other and keep the community safe, says Izzy Schulman. ‘Being part of it will help you to get to know the people in your local community and you can work with police to ensure that your area is protected against crime,’ adds Mike McGrail.
Insurance
Before going on holiday, check your insurance policy to confirm what you’re covered for, especially if you’re away for more than 60 days, advise John Lewis Home Insurance.
Luggage
You should label your luggage but it’s advisable not to put your landline phone number or address on it, say John Lewis Home Insurance.
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Your holiday
Don’t advertise your departure on social media, your voicemail message or out-of-office email. ‘Finally, be careful about your conversation on the way to the airport. Talk loudly about your house sitter for instance, not about how you are looking forward to your fortnight away,’ says Dr Claire Nee.
Christmas
Claims against home insurance policies soar in the darker months of the year, and the festive period is sadly a time when burglars are increasingly likely to strike, with many people going to visit friends and family and leaving their home and cars unattended.
New research by security retailer specialist safe.co.uk revealed over 25% of Brits don’t take extra care protecting their homes during the Christmas season.
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Brits are unwillingly enticing burglars into their homes with 35% admitting they put their Christmas presents under the tree placed in front of their window. And while it sounds obvious, locking windows and doors at all times is essential as police figures reveal that an open door is one of the top ways for burglars to gain entry.
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