People warned to protect their homes over Christmas period

Christmas should be a time of joy and festive fun but with more than 76,000 households up and down the country the target of unwelcome intruders over the festive period, the merriment could too easily turn to misery for families that are the victim of domestic burglary. With many people expected to spend an average of £385 on presents, the total amount of money lost to crime could be over £58million, which is why Britons need to make sure they have adequate cover in place to protect their household contents from theft as well as damage.

To encourage people to protect their homes over the Christmas period, Bradford & Bingley has put together the following top tips:

During the Christmas period, make sure you are sufficiently covered for the presents you have bought. Bradford & Bingley’s home insurance automatically increases your sum insured by 10% for the month of December. However, if you need to add any expensive gifts, now is the time to do it.

Don’t tempt any unwanted guests - keep all presents out of view.

Secure all accessible windows with key-operated locks, especially those on the ground floor and near drainpipes and flat roofs.

Ensure your Christmas lights are wired correctly. Poor wiring is a source of many accidents and much damage over the festive period. If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician.

If you are storing Christmas presents away from prying eyes in a garage or shed, make sure they are covered by your home insurance policy.

Bradford & Bingley’s home insurance provides cover for items stored in outbuildings of the insured with a general limit of £2000. It also provides cover for contents that are temporarily removed from the main residence and up to £500 cover for guests' items at the insured residence that are not insured under another policy.

Dave Foyle, head of general insurance at Bradford & Bingley, says: “With so much money and effort invested in the Christmas period, people should make sure that they don't overlook the necessity of protecting their home and its contents from unwanted visitors. Christmas should be a fun time of the year - by making sure that you have adequate home insurance cover in place, you can enjoy the festive season in the knowledge that the contents of your home are protected should the worst happen."

Bradford & Bingley uses a panel of leading insurers to offer customers competitive products tailored to their needs. People looking for a home insurance quotation or wishing to arrange cover should visit bradford-bingley.co.uk.