The positive effects of good summer weather on all of us are well documented. But sadly the pleasant conditions which we have been having recently are a boon for burglars too. The ABI (Association of British Insurers) has now warned that good weather can quite literally mean open house for the criminal.
When the mercury soars, householders throw open the windows – often with scant regard for the consequences. Whilst we are sitting in the back garden, making the most of the summer weather, it is not just a cooling breeze that we are allowing in through our open windows.
In some areas of the country, half of all burglaries are made easy by householders leaving a door or window open which is then used to gain entry.
Police have also been quick to point out that it is a myth that most burglaries are carried out under cover of darkness. Indeed, burglars know that householders are likely to check doors and windows before going to bed and therefore prefer to strike in daylight hours when their job is made easy by sloppy security.
It is of course also peak holiday season, another factor which provides rich pickings for the burglar, especially when it is obvious that the house is unoccupied. Simple precautions such as asking a friend or family member to pop in to pick up post, remembering to cancel newspapers and milk deliveries and using a cheap timer to operate lights can all make your home safer.
Last summer, insurance companies paid out £84 million in burglary claims and, although householders may have been financially recompensed for the thefts, nothing can ever compensate you for items of sentimental value or for the trauma of discovering that your home has been burgled.
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