December 31st: Fright Night

One-in-six Brits (16 per cent) - 7.4 million people - will stay at home on New Year’s Eve this year because they are frightened to leave their home for fear of being burgled, according to research from Abbey Insurance. Not surprising given that 1.1 million Brits have been burgled in the past on New Year’s Eve.

And they’re not alone. Indeed over three quarters of Brits (77 per cent) told the insurer they would fret about the safety of their home and its contents on New Year’s Eve and take precautions to deter potential burglars.

Anthony Frost, Home Insurance spokesperson at Abbey, said: "Perhaps recent high profile burglaries, such as those of Liverpool footballers Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, have served as a timely reminder as to what can happen to your home when burglars know you’re not in.”

To avoid a break in, over 35 million homeowners plan to leave lights and/or televisions on to give the impression that they are at home on New Year’s Eve. They’ll also double check that the doors and windows are locked and make sure the burglar alarm is set before heading out.

Residents of the South East have been burgled more often on New Year’s Eve compared to other parts of the country. However, those living in the North of England worry the most being burgled this New Years Eve.

Abbey’s research also found that 23 million people (50 per cent) made no attempt this year to hide the packaging that their Christmas presents came in when disposing of it, and as a result risked advertising the contents of their home to potential burglars after Christmas. A further 50 per cent of us didn’t hide our Christmas presents from view before Christmas Day, and left them on display under our trees visible to all.

Anthony Frost, continued: "At this time of year, it’s common for opportunist burglars to take advantage of our well-stocked homes, especially if they can readily see the contents on display. The long dark nights and Christmas / New Year party season also provide opportunities for burglars, so we would encourage people to take precautions this New Year’s Eve to deter potential burglars.

“If you’re going out, make sure you leave the lights on - preferably on a timer - and that there’s nothing obviously expensive on display either in your home or outside where you dispose of your rubbish. It’s also worth taking extra care to ensure that all your doors and windows are properly locked and that alarms are set, where appropriate.”

For more information about Abbey’s home insurance, visit abbey.com.