Warning as opportunistic burglars target people’s properties while they’re at home

As the nights draw in and with Christmas fast approaching, Sharrocks is advising customers to be on their guard for burglaries. 

Burglars can hit at any time, but official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows most burglaries happen while people are actually at home. 

Statistics for the period from April 2019 to March 2020 show that someone was home for 64% of burglary incidents. Furthermore, 37% of those were aware their home was being raided. 

Alan Doucy, Sharrocks’ managing director, said: “Being burgled is devastating. Research shows that during the darker winter months there are increased insurance claims due to burglaries. 

“While you can’t eliminate the risk entirely because there will always be those who try to take advantage of others, there are some practical steps you can take. 

“Make sure your property is secure with doors and windows locked, even if you are home. It can literally take just seconds for someone to gain access to your property. 

“Take pictures of receipts and any high value items so you have clear records should you need to make a claim. 

“Don’t advertise your Christmas spending on social media accounts – it’s also worth doing a quick privacy health check too on these sites. 

“Doorbell and garden camera devices are more readily available these days and can really boost your security set up at reasonable prices. 

“Make sure you have insurance and that it’s still the right fit for your individual circumstances. If you are under-insured, that could see you left out of pocket should the worst happen.”

The government statistics also show burglaries are more likely to happen on a weekday than at the weekend, with seven out of 10 break-ins being reported Monday-Friday. 

If you need a quote for your property insurance, get an indication online here https://www.sharrockinsurance.co.uk/policies/buildings-and-contents-insurance/, email enquiries@sharrock-insurance.com or call 01795 580800. 

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