KEY POINTS:
Television presenter Rod Cheeseman won't let a devastating house burglary dampen his Christmas spirit.
Cheeseman owns the 12th and final house hit in a West Auckland burglary spree last Sunday morning.
"We arrived home after having a coffee to a ransacked house," TV3's Sunrise sports presenter said. "All our Christmas presents had been stolen."
A new LCD television, laptop with family photos and antiques were among the items taken.
But a whipround by work colleagues has restored Cheeseman's faith in humankind.
"The Christmas spirit is alive and well," he said.
"I'm just hoping I'm smiling when my insurance company pays up."
Christmas is the most popular time for burglars to cash in on new and expensive gifts.
Auckland police rate Avondale, Balmoral and Glen Innes as thecity's most burgled suburbs over past Christmas and New Year periods.
But every home is a potential target because most burglars are opportunists.
Police figures for the past three years reveal that, on average, Avondale has 58 recorded home burglaries over the festive season followed by Glen Innes with 35, Balmoral 30, Newmarket 27 and Mt Wellington 26.
Insurance Council CEO Chris Ryan said there were reasons burglary rates increasedover the holidays.
"The first is it's school holidays and some kids have less supervision, and find it amusing to burgle people.
"Second, people go away and their homes are exposed."
State Insurance head Martyn Collett said the number of burglary claims in December and January rose by up to 10 per cent. The average cost of each claim also increased by about 20 per cent during this time.
"The most important action people can take is to lock doors and windows." The holiday season is also Chubb Security's busiest time.
"Customers request extra patrols to their houses while they are away on holidays," a spokesman said.
The good news is holi-day burglaries aren't at the same levels they used to be, according to Alan Parry, who is an executive at AMI Insurance.
"People tend to take leave throughout the year now," Perry said. "Years ago, New Zealand went on a compulsory holi-day. But we certainly see a peak of burglary claims at Christmas."
SECURITY ADVICE
Police recommend the following holiday period tips:
* Don't leave packaging for expensive presents in the driveway waiting for rubbish collection - burglars will know what's in your house.
* Keep your home looking lived-in when you're not there - open the blinds, use timer switches on lights and radio, and ask someone to collect your mail.
* Hide or lock away passports and official documents because identity fraud is on the rise.
* Never leave a message on your answering machine saying you are not home.
* Keep your car keys somewhere safe because burglars will steal a vehicle if they can.
* Thieves target gardens, garages and sheds for valuable items, so ensure these are locked away.
* Don't hide keys outside your home or leave them in an obvious place near doors or windows.
* Ensure your valuables, including televisions and stereo systems, can't be seen from outside.
* Let your neighbours know you will be away. It's a good idea to have them or a friend regularly collect the mail, and mow the lawn so your home looks occupied.
* Install double-keyed deadlocks and key locks for windows. Shut and lock all doors and windows - burglars don't like to smash glass.
* If you have an alarm, ensure you set it before leaving home.
* Ensure your insurance is in order before going on holiday.
* Consider engraving your property - this puts thieves off because it makes it harder to re-sell.
* Ensure you have an up-to-date list and photos of your valuables, and keep copies in a safe place.
