Week leading up to Christmas sees the highest volume of household insurance claims, says Direct Line

Data released by Direct Line has shown that the week leading up to Christmas sees policyholders put through higher volume of home insurance claims than at any other point in the year.

The statistic, which has been the same for the past two years, is due to a higher than average number of home burglaries in December. Last year the top five days in December for thieves to strike were the 5th, 6^th, 11^th, 17^th and 18^th.

Bicycles are the most common item stolen in the Christmas period, followed by mobile phones and tablets. In 2014, games console thefts peaked in December (31 per cent above average) resulting in an appearance in the top 10 table for the first time.

Direct Line said that claims rapidly decline on Christmas Eve (65 per cent below the yearly average), Christmas Day (56 per cent below) and Boxing Day (41 per cent below).

Katie Lomas, head of Direct Line home insurance, said:  “With Christmas shopping now in full swing, households should not be complacent about home security. Burglary claims can peak during December, which reinforces the importance of taking steps to secure your home.

“It would be heart breaking to lose presents simply because the house was not properly secured. It’s also worth bearing in mind that as people head out to Christmas parties or to seek some winter sun, householders should take simple security measures to deter potential thieves.

“This can be done by using a timer to turn lights on and off or if away for an extended period of time, asking a trusted friend or neighbour to collect any post that has piled up.”

Mark Dugdale