NEARLY three quarters of us will use ‘clever’ tactics, like fake burglar alarms and radios playing around the clock, to keep our homes safe this Christmas.

According to research by Direct Line, half of us are more security conscious at this time of year while 28 per cent have good intentions but sometimes forget in the excitement of the season.

The research showed that our favourite clever security tricks are:

•       Installing lights that are on a timer
•       Leaving lights on permanently
•       Leaving the TV/radio playing in the house
•       A ‘Beware of the dog’ sign in the front yard
•       A fake burglar alarm over front door
•       A doorbell that sounds like a dog barking
•       A mannequin or model in the house to give illusion that someone is home

Despite that, 61 per cent of us will still worry about something once we’ve jumped in the car, with the fear of leaving the door unlocked the biggest (31 per cent) followed by the fear of leaving the oven on (21 per cent).

Most of us (80 per cent) go back to check if we’re less than five miles away, while five per cent would go back even if they were 20 miles away.
Direct Line’s Christmas holiday security tips:
•       Make sure you have locked all the doors and windows to your property
•       Activate your burglar alarm
•       If you are expecting any house sitters, give them your house key - don’t leave a key hidden on your property for them, as burglars know to look in the usual hiding spots
•       Lock away ladders and tools which could be used by burglars to break into the property
•       Lock up side gates, garages and sheds
•       Do not discuss your holiday dates in public places such as the pub or on the bus, as you could be overhead by an opportunistic thief
•       Use timer control lights
•       Ask a neighbour to check on your property and push any post fully through the letterbox
•       Leave the heating on a low setting and keep the loft hatch slightly open to avoid coming home to a burst pipe

How nervous are you about home security at Christmas? What do you do to keep your home safe? Leave a comment below.