Newham police warn that four out of five burglaries occur when a house or flat is unoccupied, so don’t advertise that you’re away on holiday.

Their advice is:

*Make sure your home looks occupied. Closed curtains in the daytime make it look as if no one is at home.

*Cancel deliveries of milk, newspapers etc discreetly – don’t announce your departure to a shop full of people. Only tell people who need to know you’re going away.

*Use automatic timer switches on radios as well as lights. Dusk-to-dawn low-energy bulbs could also be used around the house, both internally and externally.

*Don’t leave valuable items like televisions, videos or the hi-fi visible through windows.

*Ensure garages and sheds are secured preferably locked or padlocked.

*Ensure doors and windows are locked and if you have a burglar alarm ensure it is set.

*Ask a relative, friend or neighbour to check that all post and free papers are fully pushed through the letterbox, the front lawn is cut and the rubbish bin is not left out.