HAVING your home broken into by unwanted intruders is always going to be a life changing experience.

The sense of vulnerability that someone can experience when they think that where they live is no longer safe is overwhelming and no matter what other people say, unless it has happened to them, they cannot relate.

But for the rest of us, it should not be a time for widespread panic, especially if the right precautions are being taken.

With Christmas fast approaching, houses will begin to fill with presents, offering a fresh incentive to would be thieves, and as it gets dark earlier, it is important to make sure your house doesn’t look like an easy target.

As police have said, keeping valuables locked safely away is an important step that everyone should be taking, but there are others that can help to prevent an attack occurring in the first place.

Making sure it looks like you are home will help to put off would-be burglars, leaving lights on timers, a car out front and keeping curtains closed.

Also consider house alarms, CCTV car immobilisers and make sure your doors are always locked.