Burglaries increase by an average of 8% during the month of November, according to research from GoCompare.com, particularly around Bonfire Night.

Darker evenings and empty homes present an opportunity for burglars to take advantage of homeowners who let their guard down.

Ben Wilson, home insurance spokesperson at Gocompare.com, has written his five top tips for protecting your home during the Winter months:

1. Keep it out of sight
Burglars tend to be opportunists so ensuring that expensive gadgets like laptops, tablets and smartphones are out of plain sight and away from windows will make them think twice before entering your home. Gadgets and other valuables aren’t the only things that thieves could be interested in, so keep any sensitive documents locked in a drawer or consider investing in a shredder as thieves could use this information to steal your identity.

2. Lock up your tools
As well as being valuable, tools and ladders can be used to force entry into your home, the sound of which can be easily missed when accompanied by the sound of fireworks. Any unsecured tools or ladders that are used to gain entry to your home may also invalidate your insurance. Ensure your shed or garage is securely locked to avoid giving burglars an easy way in.

3. Never leave a spare key
Stashing a spare key under the doormat may seem like a good idea, but thieves know exactly where to look. Spending a few moments snooping for a spare key is preferable to forcing their way into your home as this may draw attention.

4. Leave a light on
If you’re out for the evening, consider drawing the curtains and leaving a light on. Giving the illusion that someone’s home will go a long way to deterring a burglar. If you’re away for an extended period, consider using light timers and ask a family member or friend to pop in to open your curtains and collect your post now and again.

5. Don’t share holiday plans on social media
Posting about your holiday on social media could be seen by an insurer as having advertised the fact that your home will be unoccupied for an extended period of time and this may result in your claim being rejected.