Homeowners who want to avoid filing a claim on their home insurance are being urged to take adequate steps to ensure their valuables are protected, after recent figures revealed that there has been an increase in the number of burglaries.

According to the Home Office, burglaries have risen by four per cent for the second consecutive quarter.

And because of the financial downturn, the organisation stated that burglary is on the rise.

With research from Halifax Home Insurance revealing that some 22 per cent of homeowners fail to take adequate steps to ensure their homes and valuables are protected, by keeping windows and doors unlocked when they are in their homes.

This comes after Halifax found that 29 per cent of burglaries in 2008 occurred as a result of open or unlocked windows or doors.

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "When it's warm outside people often leave windows and doors open to keep cool, but many don't realise that burglaries often happen while the homeowners are at home, as opportunist burglars reach in through open doors and windows to grab whatever they can.

"Small items such as wallets, car keys, MP3 players and digital cameras are particularly at risk."