Homeowners are being reminded to take precautions to protect the safety of their homes this winter.
Leaving a key under a pot has been identified as one practice which can make it easier for burglars to gain access to a home.
Managing director of PhoneWatch, Eoin Dunne, says homeowners should avoid hiding keys on their property.
"We would not recommend that you leave the key anywhere, unfortunately," he said.
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"We've had lots of incidents where burglars will do a search and it will often be in the obvious place.
He suggests instead the use of a 'key box', which he describes as "secure boxes that have a code on them."
