certainly isn't the thief's.

While the rest of the populace is preoccupied with buying nice things, the thief is thinking about how much he can get for nothing. The more, the merrier in fact.

"Thieves are more active now because they are expecting people to have money and presents in the house,'' warned Bermuda Police Crime Prevention Unit officer, D.c. Chris Wilcox. "In other words, they are reacting to our lifestyles.'' So, with the approach of the festive season extra care must be taken to secure homes and vehicles and ensure that would-be thieves leave empty-handed.

Basically, thieves are opportunists. They make it their business to look for flaws or weaknesses in home security arrangements -- an open window, an unlocked door, a key under the doormat.

And unfortunately, many of Bermuda's residents are only too happy to oblige -- which is why most intruders here are not very sophisticated in their methods.

Of course, a full home security system requires requiring careful thought and planning -- and more time than the run-up to Christmas allows. So let's look at some of the things which can be done now to discourage thieves.

Money, Chequebooks : Don't keep large sums of money in the house. This is especially applicable to gift club members, and those who pay out gift club money. Thieves may hear about such people and strike accordingly.

Don't leave money lying around. The thief who finds a $50 bill on the dining room table, for example, is likely to return again. He reasons that if he did so well the first time, chances are he'll do as well or better the next.

Don't leave cheque books lying around, lock them up. Always number your cheques, and go through them regularly to see that none are missing from the sequence.

Keep handbags and wallets out of sight and away from easy access, such as windows and doors.

Keys: After locking doors from the inside, remove keys and place them beyond the reach of the door. Don't leave spare house keys outside under doormats, flower pots, garden ornaments, etc. Thieves work on the premise that you have habits.

Doors: Check that all doors are locked before you leave home. Where there is glass within arm's reach of exterior door locks, install double cylinder deadbolt locks. Do the same for Dutch and French doors.

For sliding glass doors, fit secondary locks on the inside. Where there is a large gap between the top of the door and the top runner, screw a strip of wood into the runner to prevent the door from being lifted out. Where hinges are on the outside of exterior doors, install hinge bolts in the door frames on the same side and close by the hinges themselves.

Fit mesh metal grilles on the inside of louvred doors. To determine the size, simply measure the existing screen wire.

Windows: Secure all windows before leaving the house, even if you plan to be away "just a few minutes.'' That's all the time it takes for a thief to gain entry.

There are several devices on the market for securing wooden or metal windows, be they casement or sash style. These include: casement window locks for interior installation; window key locks for wooden casement windows; special locks for metal casement windows; sliding glass door locks for sliding glass windows; expanding metal grilles for interior installation, some with the option of a swing-out bar to allow for emergency escapes.

All of them do a good job, and have thwarted many a thief. Consult a reputable dealer, or the Police Crime Prevention Unit.

And remember, if you're gossiping with a neighbour, have a large property and are working out of doors -- particularly when running noisy equipment such as a lawn mower or edge trimmer -- or otherwise cannot keep an eye on your doors and windows, secure your home! Lock the doors and carry the key with you.

Lighting: The average thief hates light and noise. Good outdoor lighting is an essential deterrent. Again, there are several types available -- some are just regular corner lights controlled from a switch or timer within the home, while others, such as passive infra red, work like an alarm system, becoming active only at night and reacting to movement.

Exterior fixtures should be installed on the corners of your home and at least nine feet off the ground so they cannot be tampered with. Use high wattage bulbs and make sure the light they spread is unobstructed by trees or bushes.

Fit timers to regular outdoor lights so they can go on at dusk and remain on as long as you want them to.

Buy timers for inside lights.

Radio/Television: Leave one or the other on when you are not at home -- provided shutters, curtains or Venetian blinds are drawn. Then would-be thieves will not know if someone is home or not.

Shutters: While shutters go some way towards providing security, they are not a complete answer to keeping intruders out. The framework may be sturdy, but the slats are not, and can be smashed with reasonable force. Putting several hooks on the interior may delay entry, but are not foolproof.

At dusk, draw shutters before putting the lights on. Shutters are designed to provide ventilation and privacy -- unlike drapes, which obstruct airflow -- so use them.

Leave shutters drawn while you are at work, or otherwise away from home.

Drapes, Venetian Blinds, Roller Shades: In the absence of shutters, draw these at dusk and before putting the lights on. Whilst providing no security whatsoever, they do at least prevent a prowler or would-be thief from learning who is home, the layout of your residence, and its contents.

During the day, if you're away from home, lower Venetian blinds to prevent a would-be thief looking in and "taking inventory'' of your possessions.

Jewellery and Valuable Documents: Don't leave good jewellery in bedroom drawers or jewellery boxes.

"The two places thieves always check are the bedroom and refrigerator,'' D.c.

Wilcox said. "This is because they know they will almost always find valuables, such as money and jewellery in the bedroom, and they like to have something to eat as well!'' He suggested separating costume from real jewellery, storing the latter in a very secure place -- preferably a floor safe -- whilst leaving the cheap stuff in the bedroom.

Motor Vehicles: Always lock your vehicle wherever it is parked away from home and unattended -- even if you leave it for "just five minutes.'' Thieves love vehicles filled with Christmas shopping. Never leave shopping on view in vehicles. Lock it in the trunk, take it with you, or at least conceal it within the car. At home, remove all articles from the car when you park it, and don't forget to lock the vehicle -- even in your garage.

Dog: A dog is certainly a deterrent to thieves -- if nothing else, its barking alerts you and possibly others to something wrong.

"Some dogs are better than others,'' D.c. Wilcox noted. "Terriers are some of the best. Although they are small, they yap like crazy, while some of the big dogs, even though they look fierce, are more playful.'' Give your dog freedom of movement on its own property so it can guard the entire area. There's no point having a dog tied up at the front of the house while an intruder breaks in at the back! Alarms: There are a great many alarm systems on the market, some relatively simple and inexpensive, others complex and expensive. Some make a loud noise while others are silent and connected to the Police Central Station. Consult a security or alarm company approved by the Bermuda Police for details. A word of caution: some companies and their products are not Police approved.

U-mark: U-mark such popular consumer items as TVs, videos, stereos, speakers and portable sound systems with your own personal symbol. At least if they are stolen and recovered, the Police will know who they belong to. U-mark engravers can be borrowed free of charge from the Somerset, Hamilton and St.

George's Police Stations.

Insurance: Property in your home is worth money, and would be very expensive to replace if stolen -- particularly at this time of year when funds are needed for so many other things. Call an insurance company today and ask about coverage for the contents of your home, personal effects and jewellery. It's a wise investment.

D.c. CHRIS WILCOX -- Bermuda Police Crime Prevention Unit officer.