IN the run up to Christmas Wiltshire Police are offering their top ten tips to 'beat the burglar' over the festive period as part of their 'Safe Season' campaign.

Although Wiltshire is one of the safest counties to live in nationwide, police are warning residents to stay alert and make sure that their house is secure to keep criminals at bay.

1. Store gifts out of view Burglars look for an easy entry with good escape routes. Don’t openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window so it’s easily visible from the street. It’s too tempting for them to smash the window and grab the wrapped packages.

2. Away over Christmas? Then plan ahead.

Burglars look for occupancy cues and clues. If you’re going away at Christmas, cancel any newspaper or milk subscriptions. Arrange for a neighbour to park on the driveway to help create the impression someone is home. Don’t leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages like “we are away for the Christmas holidays” – burglars love to know they have plenty of time to ransack your house! Make use of inexpensive light timers.

3. Don’t hide keys and use alarms if you have them. Burglars know to look for hidden door keys so don’t hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots, or above door ledges. Instead give the spare key to family or trusted neighbour. If you have an alarm, make sure it is on.

4. Festive lighting – be secure. A common mistake when putting up lights is to feed extension cables through partially open windows. Criminals know to look for this. When it comes to outdoor lighting, opt for solar or battery operated lights or install outdoor electrical outlets.

5. Check doors and windows for weak spots. Burglars prefer to enter through unlocked doors or windows. Sliding windows that are not secure can be seen from distance. Nearly a third of all burglaries happen through windows. Installing a few dead-bolts and new window hinges could significantly increase the security of your home.

6. Protect your Identity. It’s good practice never to dispose of receipts and personal paperwork without first shredding it. Be careful though not to shred any important warranty details, make sure documents you keep are stored somewhere secure.

7. Dispose of gift packaging carefully. Refuse collections over the Christmas / New Year period are normally at different times. If you can’t take packaging to a recycling point, make sure you only put your rubbish out just before the collection and do your best to fold boxes so that they do not advertise your new contents of your home to thieves!

8. Secure garages and sheds. Make sure that garden tools or ladders are not left lying around or accessible from an unlocked garden shed. Garages are often targets for burglars looking for tools, bikes and gardening equipment – make sure the garage is secure and your possessions are secured too.

9. Fortify your home - Install solid core doors, heavy duty locks, longer screws in the lock strike plates and door hinges, and install secondary security.

10. Insure you home - Make sure your home contents insurance policy is up-to-date and that any special, high value items are included.

Temporary Superintendent Phil Staynings from Wiltshire Police said: "Of course we want people to enjoy themselves in the run up to Christmas but in all the excitement and anticipation of Christmas, it is important that they do not leave themselves vulnerable to crime. Once the tree is up and the lights are on, you are effectively advertising that you are ‘open for business’.

"And do not forget, it is not just about presents being stored in your home before Christmas. It is after Christmas too when we have unwrapped our own gifts – often high value and easily sold on items such as cameras, watches and jewellery – that thieves will take advantage."