Homeowners have been warned that summer is a peak time for thefts, with more burglaries occurring while someone is at home at this time of the year.

According to American Express Insurance, the afternoon, between 12:00 and 18:00, is the second most common time for thieves to strike.

Joanne Field, marketing manager for the insurer, said that homeowners need to be vigilant about the risk of burglary whether they are in the house or not.

"Summer tends to be the peak time for burglaries for two reasons: firstly, professional burglars are able to strike whilst householders are on holiday and secondly, homes and gardens are generally more open providing more chances for the opportunist thief," Ms Field said.

American Express offers a number of tips for keeping a home as secure as possible, one of which is to close all doors and windows when the property is unattended. A window only needs to be open enough for someone to fit their head through for that person to gain entry to the house, the company states.

Homeowners should also fit a burglar alarm that has been endorsed by the National Approval Council for Security Systems, cancel newspapers and milk to avoid advertising a property as unattended and use timer switches for lights and radios.

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Author:  Joanne McCabe

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