Research has revealed that many householders worry about their safety at night - even when in their own homes.
The poll from insurer Allianz UK found that one in seven felt uneasy, with the figure rising to one in five among people aged 18 to 24.
For peace of mind and protection from intruders, four in 10 respondents said they keep something that could be used as a self-defence weapon by their bed.
The poll canvassed the views of 2,000 individuals.
Meanwhile, the survey found that three in five respondents think burglary rates will increase between now and 2013.
Gareth McChesney, of Allianz UK, said: "Our research shows a distinct gap between how much people fear being burgled and the measures they put into place to protect their homes."
