Homeowners need to make sure they are protecting their belongings while they are away as August is one of the most popular times for burglaries, it has emerged.

More claims are received in June and August than for the rest of the year, claimed Direct Line, which it believes is down to people not taking preventative measures.

"Burglars can pick up on various clues to establish whether a house is likely to be unoccupied, ranging from an unruly front lawn to newspaper deliveries," noted Andrew Lowe, head of home insurance at Direct Line.

Failing to protect a property can have serious financial implications, leading the insurer to advise people to make sure their burglar alarms are activated and gates, garages and sheds locked up.

Sainsbury’s recently revealed that Britons would be making a total of 56 million summer holidays this year, spending a total of £43.86 billion.

Many people are heading abroad to escape the recession, the research found, with many also opting for shorter breaks to escape from the financial doom and gloom.