POLICE are issuing home security advice to residents to help them keep their Christmas presents safe after the festive season.

Officers warn that thieves are aware many households will have expensive new additions like electrical items, jewellery, bicycles, tablets and mobile phones.

They advise people to make sure they get rid of tell-tale packaging rather than leave it outside the house and if it does not fit in the bin to take it to a household waste recycling centre.

Cheshire Police also recommend that people do not leave new items where they can be easily seen through a window and that residents should protectively mark their property using ultra violet pens or indelible liquids with their postcode.

They emphasise that people should make sure their homes and outbuildings are secure, keep expensive jewellery in a safe and be aware of anyone acting suspiciously in the area.

Supt Martin Cleworth said: "It’s not about being paranoid and covering up everything you own whenever you leave the room, we just want people to think about general security and lowering the risk of becoming a victim of crime whenever possible.

"Thankfully Cheshire is a very safe place to live with burglaries across the county dropping by 19 per cent this December compared to last year. "But crime still happens here as it does anywhere and the best way to avoid being one of the unlucky ones is to make sure your home and property is not seen as an easy target."

For more information visit cheshire.police.uk