32% of Britons admit to have gone out of the house leaving the windows open, while 13% have left the front or back door open, according to new research from The Co-operative Insurance.
As domestic burglary accounts for 15% of all property-related crime with 789,000 incidents each year, the Co-operative Insurance is warning homeowners to take security precautions before they go away on holiday. 21% have also left keys in view of windows and doors and 22% don’t put the burglar alarm on when leaving the house. 12% of homeowners have also left the garage or shed unlocked.
Meanwhile, 15% have left keys in a hiding place outside and 9% have posted their whereabouts on social media when they are not at home.
22% have guessed the value of their property’s contents when taking out insurance, meaning they might not have the right levels of cover in place.
Caroline Hunter, head of home insurance at the Co-operative, said: “Burglary is not a nice experience for anyone who finds themselves in this situation, yet many security risks can be easily prevented. It is easy to be distracted when you’re busy getting ready to go away for the summer holidays but it is worth taking time to make some quick security checks for your own peace of mind.
“Being vigilant and paying attention to small details can not only help to prevent a burglary in the first place, but this can also speed up the claims process should you need to make a one.”