Christmas is a pretty busy time for most of us, and with all the rushing around, last-minute shopping and party invitations, the chances are that home security is the last thing on our minds. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, the festive season can be a bit of a gift for burglars, so it is well worth stopping to think about how we can make our homes more secure and deter crime.

Perhaps the most obvious temptations for burglars are the piles of presents under the tree. Gifts wrapped in brightly coloured paper, put underneath a well-lit tree by the front window, are difficult for burglars to resist.

So the best thing to do is to keep presents out of sight. Try not to display your tree and gifts in full view of passers-by and, if possible, keep expensive items hidden away until Christmas morning.

If you are storing larger presents, such as bikes, in your shed, then make sure they are securely locked. It is also a good idea to write down the frame number, just in case, and the police may then be able to trace it if it is stolen.

Of course, you can't keep an eye on your belongings all the time and during the Christmas period we are likely to have more party invitations than normal. We may also be visiting friends and family for the holidays, leaving our homes empty for a few days.

At this time of year, it is worth investing in a timer-operated light so that your home looks occupied, even during the dark winter evenings. Try not to leave just your hall light on as this can also flag-up an unoccupied house to a burglar. Closing your front room curtains and leaving the light on will give a more convincing effect.

All those parties may also mean that you leave the car at home so you can enjoy a drink. If you are leaving the car on your drive, make sure that it is locked and that the keys aren't left on display in the house. That way, if the worst happens and someone does manage to break in, your car should stay where you left it.

If you are going away for a few days, it's a good idea to cancel the newspapers and ask a neighbour (one that you know and trust) to keep an eye on your house while you're away. They can then open and close curtains, as well as collect any post that is building up until you get back. If that is not an option, the Royal Mail's Keepsafe service can hold on to your mail while you are away and deliver it when you want. There is a small fee for this service, but it can help to avoid those telltale piles of unopened post on the doormat.

Finally, when all the presents are opened and Christmas Day is over and done with, make sure you dispose of the packaging carefully.

Boxes from all those electrical items piled up by your dustbin will tell a burglar exactly what you got for Christmas, and before you know it, he could be helping himself to your shiny new camera, DVD player or games console.

Home security at Christmas, as with any other time of year, is really down to common sense. With all those gifts hidden around your home, it's worth taking just a bit of extra care to make sure that the right person is opening them on Christmas morning.

For more information visit www.crimereduction.gov.uk, or visit www.postoffice.co.uk to find out more about Keepsafe.