Homeowners warned as burglars' Christmas wish-list revealed
Cooking, candles, presents and parties are all part and parcel of the festive season, but they also make it one of the riskiest times of the year in and around your home.
New Year's Eve is the season's worst day for burglary according to ten years-worth of claims data from Aviva. Homes are 22% more likely to be broken into on December 31st than on an average day.
Every year canny burglars cash in on homes left empty during New Year revelry and of course all those extra gifts in the house from Christmas.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meanwhile, have one of the lowest crime rates of the year - even criminals have a holiday it seems! But if you're unlucky enough to be targeted on December 24 or 25th claims are higher than normal with thieves snatching belongings and presents worth an average of £1,600.
But remember Aviva automatically increases home contents cover by an extra £3000 over the Christmas period, just make sure your sum insured is up to date in January to take into account all those new belongings you've gained.
As the countdown to Christmas begins, claims data also reveals that, despite the strain on budgets, pricey gadgets are still popular. Aviva reveals the top ten items stolen by festive burglars last year and predicts what will be on thieves' Christmas swag bag wish list this year:
Top 10 items stolen Christmas 2008
1 Laptops (particularly Toshiba and Sony Vaio brands)
2 Ipod Classics
3 Nintendo Wii
4 Digital cameras (particularly compact cameras)
5 Sony PSP games console
6 Sony Playstation 3
7 Xbox 360
8 Desk-top PCs and flat screen computer monitors
9 Apple Macbooks
10 Mobile phones and Smart phones
Predicted burglars' wish list Christmas 2009
1 IPod Touch
2 Nintendo Wii
3 Nintendo Wii Fit
4 iphone 3Gs
5 Samsung Netbook Laptop
6 Playstation 3 Slim
7 Tom Tom One XL
8 Samsung 40" HD LED TV
9 Sky+ and HD set-top boxes
10 Samsung Blu-Ray Player
Sparks Flying
While you are least likely to be burgled on Christmas Day homeowners themselves need to be careful with the candles and cooking - December 25th is the worst day of the year for fires in the home, with claims soaring by 130%.
Christmas tree lights plus dry tinsel and wrapping paper also contribute to the rise.
New Year New Damage
And if you decide to stay in to celebrate cover up the sofas and protect your valuables, this is the worst day and night of the year for accidental damage claims in the home. The 32% increase is mainly down to spills on the carpets, cigarette burns and damage to mobile phones and cameras.
Aviva's home contents insurance covers accidental damage to electrical equipment like, televisions, computer games and mirrors, but you will need to take out additional Accidental Damage cover on your contents if you want those spills on the sofa or carpets to be covered. Cover starts from around £30 per year.
Greg Gladwell, Director of Household Claims at Aviva said: "You may be very proud of those perfectly wrapped presents, but they are also enticing to an opportunistic burglar, so keep them out of sight from the outside world and while the spirits may be high on December 31st don't forget to lock up the house behind you otherwise you might find someone else will be enjoying all your new gifts.
"If you're partying at home this New Year just remember that your cream sofa and precious ornaments might need a little protection of their own - spilt wine and food are some of the commonest claims we see at New Year.
"And while it's lovely to have a house twinkling with festive lights and candles, be careful when there's lots of excited children rushing around, watch out for all those dry flammable materials like wrapping paper and Christmas tree branches and don't forget to turn off the gas stove when you're watching the Queen's speech."
Aviva's tips to a safe and happy Christmas:
Don't make your home look like a shop window to tempt burglars by leaving presents under the tree - try to keep them out of sight until the big day
Attics and lofts are a good hiding place for presents and it's usually too much effort for the average burglar to look that hard for items to steal, plus they'll be far away from the wandering eyes and hands of excited children
Ensure all gift packaging is as unidentifiable as possible when you throw it out. It's easy to just dump new TV or iPod boxes in or near your outside bin but it's a beacon of advertising to opportunistic burglars
When it comes to New Year's Eve, double check the home security before you leave. Ensure all doors, windows, sheds and garages are locked securely and spare keys are well out of view
Leave lights and the TV or radio on if you're out and about over Christmas so burglars think you're home
Ensure all doors and windows are securely locked and spare sets of keys aren't on display or near to your front door - this will prevent burglars using the hook and cane method through your letterbox
Be neighbourly - keeping an eye out for suspicious behaviour and alerting the police is a charitable thing to do and could mean you prevent a miserable Christmas or New Year for your neighbour