With the clock change scheduled for this Sunday (25 October), Co-operative Insurance analysis of its own data shows that  home theft claims increase by more than a third in the five months after the clocks go back. It said that thefts are most prevalent in the winter months on a Friday.

The insurer attributed the increase to  winter nights making it easier for burglars to hide and unoccupied houses being easier to spot as they may not have lights on.

According to the Co-op data, home thefts between November and March are more likely to be via forced and violent entry than in the summer months. In comparison thefts which are more opportunistic or deceptive, and are non-forcible are more prevalent in summer than winter months.

Motor insurance claims including thefts of, or from, cars also increases by 6 per cent  when daylight savings time ends.

James Hillon, director of products at The Co-operative Insurance, said: “Darker nights unfortunately lead to an increase in home burglaries, so when the clocks change this coming weekend we are urging people to be more vigilant when it comes to home security.

“Nobody should have to go through the trauma of having their property burgled. Whilst in a lot of cases it is simply a case of bad luck, there are things that homeowners can do to deter thieves such as ensuring lights are left on when no one is at home and installing CCTV cameras, or at least dummy ones, to make burglars think twice.”