Homeowners urged to safeguard their belonging in light of 'steal to order' crime-wave

Homeowners have been advised to protect their personal belongings in light of a worrying new crime-wave. According to research by criminologists from home insurer LV=, five per cent of burglaries in 2011 were carried out by criminals who were stealing specific brands 'to order' – and the number is on the rise.

Statistics show that Apple, Samsung, Sony, Microsoft and Dell were among the most targeted and small electric goods were the most commonly stolen item. The average going-rate for these items on the black market was found to be around £345 for a stolen iPhone, £210 for an iPad and £160 for a games console – significantly less than genuine, shop-bought products.

In a bid to prevent this type of theft from occurring, an online health and safety resource is encouraging people to take action. Whatishealthandsafety.com has promoted the use of security labels and is keen for people to use an asset tag to protect electronics and valuables. These small, adhesives can be bought online from reputable suppliers and can help deter burglars.

Matt Hornsby, a spokesman for the website, said: 'Convicted thieves are admitting to stealing branded goods, so it's essential for people to protect their property in any way possible. As well as locking their homes at night and bolting all windows, they might consider investing in asset tags as a backup. These labels are only small, but they can help police track and trace items if they go missing."

The research has also revealed that criminals tend to target affluent areas, where there is likely to be a high concentration of valuable electrical items. They look for unoccupied properties with expensive products on display and are not afraid to look through bins for discarded packages and receipts – as this could suggest which items are inside the home.

Commenting on the recent findings, Hornsby said: "Criminals will do anything for a quick buck and fail to think about the emotional distress they'll inevitably cause. As a result, it's our duty to remain one step ahead and to give them no incentive to break in. Burglar alarms, CCTV cameras and strong locks can all do the trick, but we must protect our good in other ways too. Don't leave anything near the window and shred important documentation before binning it."