While you are dancing the night away celebrating the festive season it is easy to forget if you have locked the
door or shielded your pin number when taking out some money.
However, with Christmas being prime time for thievery, Brits are being warned to ramp up security measures this year.
Homes are especially attractive to criminals over the festive period, as families take trips away and leave properties - newly full with all the latest gifts - vulnerable.
Consequently, ensuring that homes are properly secure and insured is vital to protect against unwanted intruders and losses.
While some homeowners will have insurance policies that automatically increase contents cover in anticipation of varying asset values, it is important to review your insurance at this time of year.
Moneysupermarket.com insurance spokesperson Peter Harrison explained that insurers often have limits of £1,000 or £2,000 for single expensive items, so it pays to ask about jewellery and expensive electrical items to ensure they are all covered.
"Christmas is the time of year for giving and sharing amongst family and friends, but filling your home with expensive gifts could mean your home is underinsured," he stated.
"For example, if you have £45,000 worth of contents in your home but are only insured for £30,000, your insurer might only pay two thirds of a claim, even if it is for less than £30,000," he continued.
Brits must also be vigilant when spending over the festive period, with many consumers admitting that they are also lapse in their transaction security.
In a survey by the Payments Council, some 70 per cent of shoppers confessed to making security slip ups either online or on the high street.
According to PayYourWay.org.uk, the most common security misdemeanour is using the same password for most log-ins, with 43 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds claiming that their password remains the same for the majority of their accounts.
One in ten people also claimed to have shared their pin numbers, while 1.5 million say that they are aware of dropping their guard over Christmas.
Adrian Kamellard, chief executive of the payments council, warned that while it is easy to get caught in the Christmas rush, people must keep their eyes open for fraud and criminal opportunities at all times.
