THE good news is that burglaries were down again this year - a 21 per cent fall since 1997.

The bad news is that Britons still have an alarmingly complacent attitude towards home security.

Your home is probably the most valuable possession you'll ever own, which is why good security is so important.

Despite the burglary statistics being at their lowest for 18 years, plenty of thieves are still active. If you haven't been burgled yourself, the chances are you'll know someone who has and will know the impact it's had.

Manchester homes - like those in other big cities - are particularly prone to burglary. Households with a young single adult are most at risk.

Endsleigh Insurance says students are particularly vulnerable.

''Students are easy targets,'' says Endsleigh's Stuart Wartalski. ''They aren't always as security conscious as they should be, particularly, in shared houses.''

Burglary blackspots are categorised under postcodes. The biggest-risk areas in Manchester are M7-8, 13-15 and 21, followed by M1-6, 9-12 and 16-20.

David Norton, marketing manager for Abbey National home insurance, said: ''Complacency towards home security is a trend that needs to change.

''Better home security will mean some financial outlay and time spent on installation, but once it's all in place you can get on with the more exciting things in life.''

Abbey National, with BT HomeCare, has just published its Easy Guide to Home Security, written by property and finance specialist Rachel Gordon.

The research that has gone into the guide has unearthed some disturbing statistics:

• One in five householders admit they've forgotten to lock - or even close - their front door when they go out.
• More than a third - 37 per cent - of people leave the house without shutting the windows.
• A fifth of homeowners ``hide'' a key in case they lock themselves out.
• More than one in four households have no home contents insurance. The most quoted excuses are that they have never got around to it, they can't afford it, or that they do not think they need it.

''Interestingly, full-time workers are less likely to protect their homes than people who typically spend more time in it, such as retired, or part-time workers''' said Abbey National's David Norton.

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