POLICE have been raising awareness of home security in the lead up to the festive period - warning residents of the risk of housebreakings.

Officers on routine patrol have been posting crime prevention postcards through doors in the north of Scotland where a house looks unoccupied and could be a potential target for thieves.

The advice includes a warning to keep all windows and doors locked and keep gifts and expensive items out of view.

Residents are also advised to keep cash in their homes to a minimum and use timers on lights to make it look like someone is at home.

Detective Inspector Stewart Mackie said: "At this time of year when it's getting dark by late afternoon and people have been doing their Christmas shopping and have expensive gifts such as electronic equipment in their houses, the risk of a house being broken into increases.

"Although the number of domestic housebreakings has been continuing to reduce we don't want to be complacent."

Detective Mackie added that residents might want to consider investing in a Smartwater identification kit and registering electronic devices at www.immobilise.com.