Cosy nights in with close family, twinkling lights on the tree, wafts of roasted turkey and pigs in blankets from the kitchen - it certainly is the most wonderful time of the year. Unfortunately it’s the most burgled time of the year too, according to UK crime statistics*.

Little innocent things we do at Christmas, from social media posting to the way we store our rubbish, say to burglars that our homes are worth a second glance. But with a little consideration, these tell-tale signs are easy enough to avoid. Here’s our checklist to make sure you’re only inviting Santa to stop by this year:

Stop sharing

We love posting on social media, from the expensive gifts we’ve received to showing we’re away with winter holiday snaps, but it may not only be your friends appreciating the updates.

In fact, research has shown 78% of burglars use social media to target properties*. So, if you want to avoid break ins, keep the Christmas snaps to yourself or make sure privacy settings are up-to-date.

Ditch the notes

Christmas shopping online is really convenient, until you have to get it delivered. Often, the easiest thing to do is to put a note in the window telling the driver to leave your parcel with a neighbour, for burglars this is a dead giveaway you’re not home.

Try getting your packages delivered to your workplace, or let your neighbour know in advance the time you’re getting a parcel delivered.

Play it smart

With festive parties, family visits and winter holidays, we can be out of the house a lot at Christmas time. Burglars may prefer an empty house, but there are ways to make it harder for them to guess when you’re not home.

With ADT Smart Home you can switch on lights, TVs and radios via the app, making it look like you’re in. You can also check any cameras you have, so you can get in touch with the police right away should you see anything suspicious. Take a look at the full package here.

Break it down

Our bins fill up quickly at Christmas, often leaving the bigger boxes to take a seat on the side-lines. But if this packaging belongs to your brand new flat screen or expensive laptop, it lets everyone on your street know the treasure trove of goodies in your home.

Prioritise breaking down the boxes that belong to your more expensive presents, including electricals and jewellery. That way when a burglar passes by, your gifts aren’t on display.

Decorate wisely

As a nation we go all out at Christmas, decking the halls, decorating the tree, putting out light-up lawn ornaments. Unfortunately, these festive accessories mean something totally different to burglars.

If your tree is in the window, thieves see it is a quick getaway with presents. Outdoor lighting means you’ll have a gap leading indoors to supply electricity, making it easier for burglars to identify weak spots around the property.To help you can do things like decorating with wireless light features, keeping your tree away from windows and doors, and turning off lights when you’re out to decrease visibility.

So there you have it, our top tips for keeping the burglars at bay during the festive period. Have a wonderful and safe Christmas from everyone here at ADT.

*https://www.adt.co.uk/blog/adts-top-tips-for-online-security