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2.5m pretend to own a dog for security

Monday, 1 August 2011 11:47 AM

More than 2.5 million Brits pretend to own a dog and leave a bowl out on display to ward off burglars when they go on holiday, according to a new study released today.

Research by insurance firm Esure revealed the lengths to which people go to make sure their homes are secure.

The study found that one in ten people call on neighbours and friends to move their car into different parking spots whilst they are away.

Nearly a third of homeowners get a neighbour to open and close curtains when they are on holiday and ten per cent even leave the TV on when they are out, the study said.

A digitally minded one in eight people under the age of 25 now use Facebook to spread misinformation about their whereabouts and nine per cent use Twitter to ward off intruders whilst they are away.

Thirteen per cent of Brits pretend that someone's still at home when they get in a taxi to go out or on holiday, but by far the most popular form of trickery is getting a neighbour to remove post whilst away, with half the nation claiming to do so.

According to Esure, the average Brit spends £402 a year on warding off burglars and securing their home. The most popular security items that people use to protect their homes are window locks (73 per cent), closely followed by upgraded door locks (46 per cent) and alarms (36 per cent) – with Brits spending an average of £225 on their security alarms every year.

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