Do you want the good news or the bad news? The good news is that recent police figures show burglary in this country is decreasing. The bad news is that there is thought to be a rise in the number of entries where criminals have used keys.

A recent Freedom of Information Act inquiry by LV= home insurance has revealed that more than 6,000 burglaries in 2014 involved the culprit using keys to gain access to the property, as opposed to breaking and entering.

Despite the security risks, leaving a key hidden outside the home is an age-old tradition and nearly one in three (29 per cent) Brits admit they leave a 'spare' hidden on their property.

The main reason for leaving a key out is so that friends and family can get into the house while they are away from home.

Managing director of LV= home insurance Selwyn Fernandes said: "While the number of burglaries is falling overall, it is alarming to see that the number of thefts where the burglar used a key is increasing.

"Burglars know that people tend to leave a spare key in a handful of places near their door and will often search these before attempting a break-in.

"Don't make their job easier for them by leaving keys where they can easily be accessed. If you must leave a key outside, use a police approved key safe and only give the code to people you trust."

The Key Safe Company based in Droitwich developed the only police-approved key safe (C5000) which is used by thousands of householders to allow access to their homes without compromising their security.

The advantages are:

• To allow secure access to the home of an elderly or disabled person who may have carers visiting.

• To allow access if you lose or forget your keys.

• To give access to children (or adults) so they don’t have to carry keys around.

• As a way to allow access to holiday home renters (with the code being changed for each new rental)

More information is available from www.keysafe.co.uk

Superintendent Kevin Purcell of West Mercia Police said: "A few things are basic crime prevention measures. One is to ensure that we do not make life easier for any would be burglars by leaving doors open or the keys under the mat.

“Such a welcome may well leave your insurance invalid or reduced. Likewise, leaving keys on show on a table, the stairs or on a hook inside on the wall may mean that burglars break a window and ‘fish’ car or house keys out to enter homes or steal cars. Following this basic advice will help us to help you."

Further home safety advice can be found here: http://www.westmercia.police.uk/advice-centre/home-and-garden-security.html