Gold, jewellery and cash are what burglars want most: small, valuable and easy to sell. Every autumn, police forces warn that family gold is being targeted around Navratri and Diwali, and the risk stays high through the darker months and Christmas. This guide covers how to keep valuables safe at home, and how to stop anyone getting through the door in the first place.
What the police have reported
The Metropolitan Police reported that in one financial year there were 1,891 burglaries with South Asian victims in London, with 6,369 items of jewellery stolen, worth nearly £9 million. That is an older figure, but the Met still issues a warning every festival season. It said most of these burglars got in through the front door, followed by the patio door or a window. Some were aggravated burglaries carried out while families, including elderly people, were at home.
Other forces have issued similar warnings. Thames Valley Police reported rises in thefts of family gold in Slough and in South Buckinghamshire. The advice applies to anyone who keeps gold, jewellery, watches or cash at home, whatever their background.
1. Keep less at home
The safest valuables are the ones that are not in the house. The Met suggests keeping jewellery you are not wearing in a safety deposit box with a company registered with the National Pawnbrokers Association. Police also advise never keeping large amounts of cash at home.
2. If you use a safe, make it hard to take away
A small safe that can be lifted can simply be carried out and opened somewhere else. If you keep one, choose a properly rated safe, have it fixed to the floor or a wall, and keep it out of sight. Check your home insurance as well: many policies limit cover for valuables and cash, and some require a particular safe rating.
3. Mark it, photograph it, register it
- Mark jewellery with a traceable liquid such as SmartWater. Police say this gives the best chance of returning stolen items.
- Take clear photos of each piece, including any hallmarks or engravings.
- Register valuables on Immobilise, the UK property register that police use.
4. Don’t advertise what you have
Think before posting photos of jewellery, new watches or gifts on social media. Police in Buckinghamshire also advised families to take festival decorations down promptly afterwards, so a house does not stand out.
5. Secure the doors, especially when you are asleep
Most of these burglars came in through a door. A basic euro-cylinder lock can be snapped or picked, and Wi-Fi cameras can be silenced (see can burglars jam Wi-Fi cameras?). The worst outcome is a break-in while the family is at home.
- Ask a locksmith to fit a TS 007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder on uPVC doors.
- Lock up properly every night: lift the handle and turn the key.
- Brace the back door at night with Door Jammer – HOLDOOR. It hooks under the inside handle and braces the door against the floor, so the door stays shut even if the lock is beaten. It has no batteries and no Wi-Fi, so there is nothing to jam.
- For patio doors, ask a locksmith about anti-lift blocks and an upgraded lock. The Door Jammer is not for sliding or patio doors.
FAQ
Is a home safe enough on its own?
Only if it is rated, fixed down and hidden, and even then it is safer to keep most valuable jewellery off the premises. A safe protects what is inside it. It does not stop anyone getting into the house.
Should I tell my insurer about valuable jewellery?
Yes. Many policies have a single-item limit and a total limit for valuables, so high-value pieces often need to be listed separately.
What happens with the Door Jammer in a fire?
Keep the key where you can find it. In a fire: find the key, remove the Door Jammer, unlock the door and leave the building.
About HOLDOOR
Door Jammer – HOLDOOR is Sold Secure Bronze rated and Secured by Design accredited (Police Preferred Specification). It adjusts from 70cm to 120cm and fits most UK single-handle uPVC doors, with the handle on the left or right. No drilling or tools are needed. It is made in Britain from British steel and costs £90 (offer ends 31 December 2026), with free UK delivery, 30-day returns (free return postage if unused and in original packaging) and a 2-year warranty. It is not for sliding, French, double or patio doors.
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