Don't give a burglar a first class ticket to your home while you are away this summer.

Ealing Council’s safer communities team is reminding people to take care and not tempt opportunist thieves with an open house, as thousands of residents are planning their summer get-away, and others spending more time in their gardens.

A few simple steps to protect your home can reduce the chances of you being a victim.

While on holiday:

• Only discuss your holiday plans with you people you know and trust – do not be specific about the details on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.
• Cancel deliveries of papers, magazines and food. If possible, ask someone you trust to collect your post and move it out of view.
• Install timer switches to automatically turn on lamps or radios on and off to make it look like you are in.
• While you are travelling, do not have your home address showing on your luggage labels.

While at home:

• Never go out and leave windows open, even small ones.
• If you are upstairs, make sure the back door is not left open.
• If you are out in the back garden, make sure your front door and windows are secure.
• Tidy away all your garden tools when you are finished and store ladders securely – otherwise they could be put to use by criminals.
• If you live in a house or ground floor flat, make sure downstairs doors and windows are secure at night.

Cabinet member for Community Services and Safety, Councillor Ranjit Dheer, said: "Our work with Ealing police has seen a significant fall in burglaries in the past year but we are keen to do more. The effects of a burglary can be devastating. As well as the invasion of privacy and damage that can be caused, it is the sentimental value of the items that cannot be replaced."