It is virtually impossible to make your home completely burglar proof, but there are many things that you can do to reduce the likelihood that you will be targeted. An appropriate home buildings and contents insurance policy will pay you the cost of anything that is stolen or damaged, but some sentimental items may be irreplaceable to you no matter their market value. One of the best ways to ensure that your home is not targeted by thieves is to ensure that yours is not the easiest opportunity on the street.

To make your house as secure as possible, be sure to lock your doors and windows and use your burglar alarm if you have one. Even if you are at home, thieves have been known to let themselves in to unlocked houses and snatch car keys or a handbag without the owners even being aware they had been there, so dont leave valuables by the door where they can be stolen.

You should also keep in mind that if your bag is stolen with your house keys in it, and if there are also documents or letters with your personal details on them, then the thief may have access to your house and you could also be in danger of identity fraud. If possible, avoid carrying your address with your keys, and if your keys are stolen, be sure to get your locks changed as soon as you can.

It is also advisable to change the locks when you move into a house because the previous owner or tenant could have kept copies. Be careful who you trust with your keys, the workman that you leave them with could easily make copies.

Avoid leaving anything outside your house that a burglar could turn into a house breaking tool. Bricks, ladders, spades and even wheelie bins can be used by house breakers to smash or access windows that you may think are secure. Trees or shrubs that make your house difficult to see from the road may make your house particularly vulnerable to burglars who know they can break in without being seen, so consider whether it is worth sacrificing a little privacy to ensure that your home is not attractive to thieves.

If you fail to use your existing security measures like burglar alarms, your insurance policy may be invalidated and your claim in the event of a burglary could be refused. If the worst does happen, call the police immediately and your insurers as soon as possible.

Your insurance company will need details of anything that has been stolen, so it is helpful to make an inventory of your belongings, perhaps annually, and to keep receipts for any major purchases. Photographs can be a useful way of making a record of the number and condition of items such as clothes and jewellery.

Your insurance company will be have experience of dealing with burglaries and can give useful advice on how to make your home as safe as possible. While it is very important to have home insurance in case you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a burglar, the best course of action is to prevent it in the first place.

With Kwik Fit Insurance home insurance , your home and your treasured possessions will be well-protected from the unexpected.