While the Christmas holidays are great for relaxing and spending quality time with your family, it’s easy to forget that it’s often a busy period for thieves as well. With a recent study by shopping site Kelkoo predicting that the average family will spend nearly £700 on Christmas-related items - including £437 on gifts - it pays to remember that burglars often strike in the festive season, and that you should protect your property with Castle Cover house insurance in case the worst should happen.

Expensive gadgets such as iPhones and tablets are expected to be popular gifts this season, but they are also extremely sought-after by thieves as they are easy to carry and can be quickly sold on. For this reason, police forces around the country advise people to make things as difficult as possible for criminals over Christmas, and of course remember the basics of locking all doors and windows every time they go out – it is surprising how many people forget.

Many people will go away to visit relatives for a few days over Christmas, and burglars will be on the lookout for the signs of unoccupied house, such as lights left off and unopened mail. To avoid making your house a target, it’s worth investing in automatic timers for lights and asking a neighbour to pick up your post. A burglar alarm installed in a prominent place will also help to dissuade criminals from seeing your property as a soft touch.

Burglars are also becoming more technologically savvy, using social networking sites to find out when somebody plans to go away for an extended period of time. Avoid broadcasting your holiday plans online and make sure your status updates can only be seen by friends you trust.

Thieves will be looking through windows to see what they can get, so keep valuables out of sight as much as possible – a pile of presents under the tree can make a tempting target for a break-in. Tools and garden furniture should be safely locked away in a shed, as not only can these be stolen, but they can also be used by criminals to break windows and gain access to a property.

However, even after taking every precaution, many families will sadly fall victim to burglaries this Christmas. To set your mind at rest, make sure you have adequate home insurance that takes into account the extra valuables that will be in your house over the festive period.