Insurance
Millions of Brits still leave spare key under doormat
More than a million Brits may be unwittingly inviting intruders into their home by leaving a spare key under the doormat, a report has found.
According to the survey by MoneySupermarket.com on Brits’ approach to home safety, one in five had been burgled in their current home, or at a previous property.
Of those burgled in the past, almost a third said they were repeat victims, with five per cent having been targeted three times.
Despite these stats, over 1.5 million Brits confessed to leaving a spare key to their home in a plant pot, or under the doormat.
People also said they had lost track of the number of keys they have given out to people, and on average, guessed there are two keys to their home ‘out there’ while one in five admit they have three or more spare house keys that are dotted around with friends and neighbours.
Of those who had been repeatedly burgled, almost a third accidently left their doors or windows unlocked, leaving them more vulnerable to being burgled again.
Click here to view our Sponsored Content Hub
Figures from the British Crime Survey show that 71% of British households don’t have a burglar alarm.
The MoneySupermarket report also found half of Brits don’t belong to a Neighbourhood Watch programme, and 46% fail to set timers on their lights when they’re away from home.
A quarter don’t have external security lights on their property, and 23% have accidentally left doors and windows open or unlocked when out.
Hannah Jones, home insurance expert at MoneySupermarket, said: “There are simple things you can do to make sure your home is secure and reduce the chance of getting burgled. Don’t learn the hard way – take time to make sure your doors and windows are locked, especially if you’re heading out and leaving your property unattended.
“Never stash your house keys in a plant pot or under the doormat as these are often the first places a burglar will check, and ensure you have a burglar alarm fitted to your property. If you’re heading off on holiday always ask a family member or trusted friend to check the house while it’s unoccupied, and if you’re going to update your friends about your holidays, remember to lock down your social media posts to make sure you know and trust the people who will be reading about your time away from home.”
The report showed that younger Brits also tend to overshare on social media – with many updating statuses on when they are heading off on holiday and for how long – making themselves a prime target for burglars.
Jones added: “Burglary is often unavoidable but it is vital you take all the possible measures to limit the chances of it happening to you. Whether you live in a mansion, or in a one-bedroom flat, it’s vital you ensure you have the correct level of cover for your home and possessions.”