Residents in West Yorkshire who want to avoid a home insurance claim in 2009 are being urged to make improving their properties' security their new year's resolution.

Police in the area have launched a campaign to cut the number of burglaries in the county.

The officer in charge, Detective Inspector Duncan MacNay, said: "If people work with us, they can take some simple and straightforward steps to reduce the chance of them becoming a victim."

Householders are being urged to view their properties through the eyes of a criminal.

The police explained that if residents can see ways in which they can gain entry without keys, burglars will be able to as well.

Residents were reminded a quarter of all break-ins do not involve forced entry.

This comes after West Yorkshire police recently revealed they had sent officers to check the security of 1,064 empty properties in the region.

Of those houses checked, 96 had unlocked front or rear doors.

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