One thing burglars tend to wear when committing a break in is cheap trainers, according to research carries out by Churchill Home Insurance.
By wearing cheap trainers they can dispose of them easily after their crimes.
Convicted thieves also revealed wearing gloves or socks on their hands avoids leaving fingerprints and donning a hat acts as a disguise.
Martin Scott, head of Churchill home insurance said: “If someone thinks there is a burglar in their home or trying to break in, their first course of action should always be to contact the police if it is safe to do so and to avoid confrontation.
“If householders are forced into a confrontation with an intruder, they are legally permitted to protect themselves as a last resort.”
Some five per cent Brits mistakenly believe they are legally allowed to set traps in their home to harm potential intruders.
But while booby traps were made famous in the movie Home Alone, if a householder’s trap were to harm a burglar or intruder they could be prosecuted for acting with very excessive and gratuitous force.
Awareness amongst burglars of the laws increasing householders’ rights, which came into force in 2013, to protect their property is mixed.
Around half of burglars know of occupants’ increased rights to protect property, however, two thirds said this change had made little difference to the way they approached burglary as they were very careful not to meet their victims in any case.
A fifth of burglars said that the change in the law had made them undergo additional occupancy checks to ensure they didn’t meet the householder and risk confrontation.
Despite shows such as CSI highlighting the use of scientific markers to track criminals, burglars appear largely unconcerned about leaving DNA at a crime scene.
Recognising that burglary can be an extremely traumatic event and leave people feeling like they and their home are vulnerable, Churchill Home Insurance is highlighting its 24/7 burglary response offering.
Martin Scott added: “Burglars will usually target properties which look unoccupied and provide an easy entry and exit point, so that they can get away undetected.
“The chances of meeting a burglar are very slim but we urge householders to follow some simple steps to make burglars avoid their home.
“Making the property look occupied, having locks on doors and windows, remembering to lock all access points including garages and sheds and removing valuables from sight are all basic measures to help prevent burglary.”
Recognising that burglary can be an extremely traumatic event and leave people feeling like they and their home are vulnerable, Churchill Home Insurance is highlighting its 24/7 burglary response offering.
The service means, day or night, Churchill’s burglary response team is available to make the property safe after it has been broken into.
Following a break in, Churchill will send an engineer to replace all damaged locks with a British standard lock and temporarily secure damaged windows and doors.
This is how else you can keep your home safe during the winter holidays.
Daily Express :: Life and Style Feed
