The next two months are the most lucrative for burglars according to research carried out by the Garda's National Crime Prevention Unit.
Burglaries typically rise by around a quarter in winter with the majority taking place during early evening.
It's called fishing but not as we know it and the catch can be far more rewarding.
By using adapted rods with magnets or long poles with hooks, over 200 sets of car keys were stolen through letterboxes last year alone.
Burglaries in general usually rise by a quarter in winter and most take place between 5pm and 11pm.
In the twelve months to July, over €35m worth of property was stolen from Irish homes with most burglars gaining entry through a back door or window.
One in five walked straight through the front door and that's something Kelvin Courtney warns us we need to be more aware of:
Other tips include keeping a light on when you're not home, making sure your alarm is always armed and storing keys safely away from windows and letterboxes.
