Did you know that almost a third of all dwelling burglaries take place at homes with unlocked doors and windows?

So, if you leave your home insecure this winter then you could be letting in more than a draft.

Avon and Somerset Police is urging people to use their security alarms, locks, bolts and set their timers to avoid becoming a victim of burglary.

Superintendent Sue Scott said: "With more hours of darkness when people are out or at work, doing the shopping or picking up the kids from after school clubs there is more opportunity for criminals to target vulnerable homes for burglary.

"People should make sure their windows and doors are always locked when they leave home. Even when at home, people should never leave open or unlocked windows and doors unattended.

"Use a timer when leaving the house or going away on holiday. Don't leave valuable items like computers, laptops, phones, wallets, car keys or jewellery on display.

"It is also important to stop the demand for stolen goods. Don't buy second hand electrical goods, computers or phones unless you know where they have come from."

Top tips for keeping your home secure this winter:

• Always secure windows and doors, especially at night. If you do want to open a window, never leave it unattended.
• Keep small high-value items like your car keys, mobile phone, wallet, handbag and jewellery out of sight, and ensure they can not be seen or reached through cat flaps and letter boxes
• Don't keep pin numbers in your diary
• Set light switch timers for when you are out or away on holiday
• Take an interest in the security at the homes of vulnerable family members and look out for your neighbours. Find out more about Neighbourhood Watch
• Report any suspicious behaviour. It is common for an offender to checkout a number of properties for entry points before finding a vulnerable home. If you see someone suspicious hanging around a property call 999.
• Keep photos of your jewellery, take a note of serial numbers and mark your property with a forensic code liquid, like SmartWater. For further information please visit www.smartwater.com
• You should also register your property on www.immobilise.com
• We suggest making use of tracking software, that is available to download onto computers and some smart phones for free and can be activated remotely to find the location of your device if it ever goes missing. One example of this software, which is free of charge, is called Prey.