While it is the season to be jolly, for some, it will also be the season to be burgled.
As families go on holiday and leave their homes vacant, the burglars will come out to play.
Burglary is NZ's billion dollar problem.
Since 1996, nearly 1.2 million have been recorded and last year only 12 percent were resolved by police.
A burglary can take only seconds but for the victim, it can take years to recover from.
So what can you do to protect yourself and make sure your house is safe?
Story brings you advice and tips from a former burglar, a victim and a psychologist to avoid the crooks who are smarter than you think.
Watch the video for the full Story report.
