Shining a light on winter worries

With National Home Security Week upon us from October 25th to 31st, Kent Police has published advice to homeowners hoping to keep their homes secure in the winter months.

As British Summer Time ends on October 29th and the clocks go back, UK citizens can look forward to more hours of darkness – and an increased risk of home burglary.

British Crime Survey statistics from 2004-05 show that 57 per cent of all burglaries and 68 per cent of attempted burglaries occur at night.

Aggregate data from the last decade shows too that theft levels rise between October and March.

Kent Police propose a number of precautions including timed lights, alarms and security lighting.

"Don’t make it easy for burglars this winter," urged chief inspector Mark Harrison.

More elaborate precautionary measures include stowing away garden furniture which could be used to force entry, keeping hedges trimmed so your garden is visible and planting trellises with prickly shrubs to impale the would-be thief.

But insurance is also a vital element of protection in case deterrents fail.

Homeowners should check insurance policies carefully, the police warned, verifying, for example, that their cover applies if they are away for extended periods.