Police are advising people to take sensible precautions to make their gifts less attractive to thieves.

Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Thomson, head of Northumbria Police's crime department, said: "We want to encourage people to make their gifts extra special by making them more difficult to steal.

"We know people are very busy at this time of year but taking some simple and effective precautions will make sure your gift is enjoyed all year long."

Christmas crime prevention advice includes:
l Record the serial number of any goods you buy and keep them safe, including the frame numbers of new bikes and the serial numbers of new electrical equipment for future reference.
l Empty boxes left outside your home advertise what you have bought, so dispose of them safely.
l Register mobile phones on a crime prevention website, www.immobilise.com, which immobilises the phone, if reported stolen, rendering it useless to thieves.
l Keep a record of your phone's IMEI number by keying in *#06#. This unique long digit code will then appear on the handset. Keep a separate note of it.
l Contact police if your new phone is stolen or lost, they will record the details of the theft. Also call your service provider and they will block your handset and SIM code, making the phone useless to the thief even if they change the SIM card.
l If you store large items such as bicycles in your shed make sure they are secure and that your insurance covers them.