Close shutters when on holiday

Most policies tell you to close the shutters if you are going to be away from home – some even specify for periods of longer than 12 hours – and you must comply. Even if you feel this is an advertisement to thieves your insurer can refuse to pay out if you refuse and are raided.

Insurers federation Assemblée Plénière des Sociétés d’Assurances Dommages says most raiders gain access through a main door and recommends multi-point locking doors with the A2P label – which are guaranteed to keep out a thief for five minutes, long enough to make them look elsewhere.

A lock will cost up to €500, plus €150 for installation. For more complete cover fit anti-jemmy brackets or even armour the door. Brackets called cornières anti-pince cost €200 but an armoured door will cost up to €4,000.

Apsad says some insurers will demand bars on windows but it also recommends householders use windows with the “Saflex Inside” logo.

Inside the house, take photographs of valuables and then lock them away. Take a note of your mobile phone’s IMEI number to block it in case of theft.

Get help from the police when they set up Opération Tranquillité Vacances in the July and August school holidays and they will call past your empty house to check it is safe. Fill in a form at the gendarmerie or commissariat de police. It is a free service.

Break-ins are just one problem and you should unplug all electrical appliances, shut off water and gas and shut doors and windows.