Always Leave A Tip For Burglars

To avoid your house being taken apart if you’re burgled, leave £50 in an obvious place. That should satisfy intruders with a drug habit (the majority) who just want to break in, find something fast and get out.

If you insist on keeping money or valuables at home, where’s the best hiding place? A reformed burglar revealed that it’s inside a toy in your child’s bedroom. No thief will venture into that mess.

Under your attic insulation is another place that’s just too much like hard work for the burglar in a hurry. Or slit open a scatter cushion, then sew it up again.
Less labour-intensive is buying a mini-safe that looks like a soup can, a wall plug or even a lettuce to pop in the fridge.

But by far the best protection is to join your local Neighbourhood Watch (www.neighbourhoodwatch.net). It’s a great source of cut price - sometimes even free - window and door locks and spy holes. Fitting them might be free too and they’re worth a 5% discount on your home insurance.

In fact, just belonging to an active Neighbourhood Watch will earn you money off your premium.