POLICE in Tendring have given their top ten tips to make sure residents enjoy a crime free Christmas.

The festive season often brings an increase in certain types of crime including burglary, shoplifting and purse dippings.

People are being urged not to be easy targets.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Keeping Christmas crime free starts before you leave your house. You don’t want to come home to find your house broken into.”

The top ten tips are: 1. Lock away garden tools. Criminals will use your tools to break into your house.

2. Create the illusion of occupancy. Consider timed lights or leaving a television or radio on.

3. Lock gates and outbuildings not just doors and windows.

4. Only park at park mark sites which have been security checked by police. The six in Clacton ca be found at parkmark.co.uk.

5. Leave nothing on display in the car. Wipe off Sat Nav marks and remove items from view to avoid tempting crooks.

6. Make sure you lock the car. Look for the light flash if you use an automatic key fob and try the door handle to make sure.

7. Keep an eye on your purse, mobile phone and handbag. If a thief sees it they will steal it. And remember criminals won’t only try to see your pin at cash machines but at shop payment points as well.

8. If you stop for a snack don’t leave your phone on the table. Secure your handbag and any presents you have brought so they cannot be snatched.

9. When you are returning presents to your car be aware of your surroundings and check nobody is watching.

10. Don’t be distracted when loading your car. Criminal techniques include pretending to want directions using a map or pretending you have dropped money on the floor. If somebody genuinely needs help they will not mind waiting for you to secure your belongings in the car first.