Well meaning recyclers advertise home contents to burglars

Over 16 million people advertise the contents of their home to potential thieves, according to research from LV=. Nearly four out of ten (37%) consumers leave the discarded packaging from expensive products outside homes for recycling, possibly in full view of passers-by, including potential burglars.

While the British trend towards recycling is overwhelmingly positive, green households could get a nasty reward for their efforts. The 16.35m Brits that leave the packaging from new purchases outside their home for their local recycling collection could be unwittingly advertising their new goodies to anyone that cares to look, warns leading mutual insurer LV=.

The surge in the rapid replacement of expensive items means that people might be making their homes a target for thieves if they do not dispose of their old items with care. 5.3 million people leave old goods outside their home when they buy replacements, but this might alert crooks to the expensive new items within their homes that are worth breaking in for. Consumers looking to make their home a less tempting prospect to burglars should follow the example set by 38% per cent of the population, and take old possessions to a local tip or collection point.

A further 13% of all people put packaging straight in the dustbin. Whilst this reduces the most obvious telltale signs of a luxury purchase, a quick look through the rubbish is all a burglar needs to see what someone has bought. And the move by some councils towards fortnightly collections could give criminals twice as long to root around in the refuse for clues.

Internal research by LV= also indicates that many of the items most likely to be stolen from homes come in cardboard boxes, for example games consoles, DVD players, laptops and plasma screen TVs. When replacing expensive goods like these Brits should dispose of the wrappings away from their home. By leaving the packaging outside in the clear plastic bags often supplied by councils for recyclable waste consumers may be making their homes prime targets for opportunistic crooks.

Martin Milliner at LV= says: “If consumers want to reduce the risk of burglary, telltale signs of expensive belongings should not be left outside as this makes homes look like ‘yard sales’ to thieves. A quick trip to the local tip could save people from the traumatic, and in some cases expensive, experience of home burglary. Or alternatively people are advised to wait until the day the recycling collectors are due and only put packing out then, thus drastically reducing the chance someone will see what has been bought.

“Households should make sure they add expensive individual items to their home and contents insurance policy. If the worst comes to the worst and there is a break-in consumers will at least be covered for their losses.”