Would you let a stranger into your home?

We all know how important it is to keep our home secure when we aren't there, but have you ever thought that your home could be at risk from criminals breaking in under your very nose?

Almost three million people say that have been targeted by so-called ‘distraction burglars' in the last five years*. These types of criminals have entered people's homes under the auspices of a well-known company, perhaps claiming to be there for meter readings or to raise money for a charity.

Often, accomplices are used to enter the home while the victim is distracted and the consequences can be costly, with the average theft of this type costing around £1,230.
While we clearly wouldn't like to tell people not to answer their doors to unexpected callers, the Home Office highlight some simple steps you can take to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of bogus callers:

• Lock - Keep front and back doors locked (with keys taken out), even when at home.
• Stop - Stop and think if anyone is expected; look through a spy hole or window to identify the caller.
• Chain - Put the door chain or bar on before opening the door, and keep it there whilst talking to the caller.
• Check - If you are wary of the caller, ask to look at their identity card, even if the caller has a pre-arranged appointment (close the door while doing this). Look up the phone number of who the caller represents in the phone directory and ring to verify the caller's identity; do not use a phone number given on the identity card as this may be fake.

One other thing you should think about it is how well advertised your home is to thieves. With a number of people across the UK complaining that their homes have been targeted after appearing on Google Street View, it's more important than ever to ensure that attractive and expensive possessions are not left in sight to encourage burglars.

The Home Office also warns against leaving large amounts of money around the home unless absolutely necessary. For further tips, you can always check out our guide to burglar-proofing your home or our top ten tips for keeping burglars at bay.

If you are a victim of this sort of crime, it's vitally important to make sure you phone the police - according to research*, less than half of those who believe they have come across a distraction burglar have done so.

*Research from Sainsbury's Home Insurance, April 2010

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Not only is this the best way of ensuring that these people get caught, but you might also find that your home insurance and contents insurance policy will not cover you unless you have reported the crime.