Getting to grips with DIY could be an effective means of reducing the chances of being a victim of burglary, it has been suggested.
In an effort to prevent opportunistic thieves, Halifax Home Insurance points out that homeowners should be looking to fit key-operated locks on to doors and windows, especially on a property’s ground floor.
Furthermore, people are advised to fit a burglar alarm in a prominent place and ensure that such a device is always set at night.
Such guidance comes as research from the firm shows a fifth of Britons do not take steps to hide valuable items away from prospective thieves.
Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager for Halifax, states: "Many don’t realise that burglaries often happen while the homeowners are at home, as opportunist burglars reach in through open doors and windows to grab whatever they can."
The DIY advice follows Wiltshire Police telling the Salisbury Journal last month that there had been an increase in the number of burglars in the region making their way into properties through unlocked doors and windows.