Over the Christmas period Britons spend an average of £385 each on Christmas presents for their friends and family. This means that across the UK around £18.3bn worth of gifts will be sat in people’s houses over the Christmas period.

But research by Direct Line Home Insurance reveals that 42% of Brits hide all their presents in one place – in the main bedroom – giving burglars a better chance of finding all the Christmas gifts in one go.

Andrew Lowe, head of home insurance at Direct Line, said: “With all the extra possessions in the home, Christmas can be a popular time for burglaries so people need to make sure they are vigilant with their home security.

“Those buying popular gadgets such as digital cameras, laptops, iPods and the new iPhone need to be especially careful as these items can be easy-pickings for burglars to steal and re-sell.

“After Christmas and New Year some may find that the value of their household contents has significantly increased in value, so it is worth reassessing home insurance policies to make sure people are not underinsured.”