Worst Times for Burglaries - Vulnerable Times of the Week / Where

1. Wednesday night - Wales, East Anglia, North-West, Scotland.

2. Friday night - Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands.

3. Saturday night - South-West, West Midlands.

4. Thursday night - London, South-East.

5. Saturday afternoon - North-East.

Martin Scott, Head of Home Insurance, says: “Our findings show that burglars will target homes on week nights as well as weekends and that homes need to be secure at all times, whether people are at home or not.”

So however captivating the Bingo session, midweek football or Lost are, home-owners should take the following simple precautions to deter criminals from entering their homes at all

Lock front and back doors even when the property is occupied.

Make sure the windows are securely locked in rooms that are not in use.

Check all doors and windows are securely closed and locked when leaving the home and before going to bed.

Scott concluded: “Burglaries can obviously occur at any time but a few simple precautions can make a real difference. Home owners should always be mindful of the risk of burglary and secure windows and doors when going out, even if it is only to visit a neighbour for a few minutes.”

* Research commissioned by Churchill Insurance with 1,387 adults, August 2005

**Based on percentage of people burgled on a Wednesday night in each relevant region and the average cost (£995) of a home theft claim in 2004