Around a third of burglaries in the Avon and Somerset area are opportunistic, with the thief gaining access through an unlocked door or open window. To help ensure you do not become the victim of a burglary you should:

• lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you’re just out in the garden
• remove valuables from view of ground floor windows
• hide all keys out of sight and away from your letterbox
• leave radios or lights in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied
• make sure any fences and gates around your home are in good condition
• supplement and reinforce garden fences with prickly plants and shrubbery – you can see examples on the Cleeve Nursery website
• improve natural surveillance at the front of your home. You can trim high hedges, for example
• keep ladders and tool stored away. Don’t leave them outside where they can be used to break into your home
• store any high value items – such as jewellery and passports – in a securely locked safe or bank vault

Avon and Somerset Police went out and about to see how many open windows and doors they could find: