Britain's homeowners risk losing up to £19 million worth of presents in burglaries this Christmas, a study shows today.
Britain's homeowners risk losing up to £19 million worth of presents in burglaries this Christmas, a study shows today.
Norwich Union’s Christmas Crime study shows that each household will on average spend £500 on presents and up to 38,000 households could be burgled during the festive season*.
But despite this risk, three-quarters of British homeowners take no extra security precautions against crime at Christmas - with one in five people leaving their presents out under the tree up to two weeks before the big day.
And it isn’t just Christmas presents that are at risk – an average family spends at least £400 on food, drink and other provisions to last through the festive season - 35 per cent more than last year.
Norwich Union’s Christmas Crime study also found that:
- 8 per cent of people have been victims of Christmas crime
- Men are more generous than women at Christmas, with 40 per cent of men spending up to £500, compared to just 33 per cent of women
- More than a quarter of people put up lights and decorations outside their homes over the festive period, which could represent a theft risk
- The south is the worst area for Christmas crime, with one in 10 southerners having been victims and nearly eight out of 10 people in the Greater London area admitting to not taking any extra steps to prevent such crime
- Homes are most susceptible to burglary on Christmas Eve, when 40 per cent of people leave their presents under the tree at this time
To help people protect themselves and their property at Christmas, Norwich Union has produced some top tips for homeowners, including:
- keep presents out of view by positioning your Christmas tree away from the window
- tell trusted neighbours you're away and ask them to keep an eye on your home and maybe park their car in your drive while you're away
- use timer switches to turn lights on and off during the evening to give the appearance that someone is home
- don’t forget to double check all doors and windows are locked when you leave your house
- if you have a burglar alarm make sure that it is set and that you have told the police who the keyholder is
- taking photos of very expensive gifts will be invaluable if the items ever need to be identified by the police and for insurance purposes
Jill Willis, market development manager at Norwich Union Insurance, said: “Christmas is a time to relax and catch up with friends and relatives, but the threat of burglary during this period can’t be ignored.
“Home security at Christmas is as important as putting up the decorations, buying the turkey and watching the cheesy Christmas day film, yet our research shows that three quarters of British people are not taking any extra care to protect their homes and property. By taking a few simple steps, homeowners can help to avoid the trauma that burglaries cause.”
Commander Robert Quick, from the Association of Chief Police Officers, (ACPO) said: “Burglars do not take any time off over Christmas and are extremely opportunistic during this period. They prey on empty homes and lax security, so we must all be especially cautious."
Norwich Union’s ‘Crack Christmas Crime’ tips are available at: www.norwichuniondirect.co.uk/homedoctor
Notes to editors
- Norwich Union commissioned Taylor Nelson Soffres to conduct research with 1,001 adults aged 16+ across Great Britain. The survey was carried out on 15-17 November 2002
* Home Office Statistics, October 2001- December 2001
- Norwich Union Insurance is the UK's largest insurer with a market share of around 16% and is 1.5 times the size of its nearest rival. It is also the largest personal lines insurer.
- It has a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses. It insures:
- one in five households
- one in five motor vehicles
- more than 700,000 businesses
- Norwich Union products are available through a variety of distribution channels including brokers, corporate partners such as banks and building societies and Norwich Union Direct.
- Norwich Union’s news releases are available on the Aviva plc website at www.aviva.com
- A selection of images is available from the Norwich Union Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk
For further information contact:
Andrew Olley or Jane Wheeler at QBO on 020 7379 0304 or Liz Kennett/Jenny Chapman at Norwich Union on 08703 66 68 64
Members of the General Insurance Standards Council
Members of the Aviva group