LUCKY ESCAPE: "Lock up" warning as CCTV shows masked man at front door as family sleeps

Gardaí released footage of a house at 4.10am in Co Meath this week in which an individual tries the front door handle to check if it is locked.

The person then walks to the side gate and checks if it is closed too. 

The house was occupied by the family who were asleep at the time. 

Garda advice is as follows: 

• Whether you are at home or going out, turn on some lights, use timer switches.

• Lock all doors and windows, almost one in four summer time burglaries involve entry through an unsecured access point.

• Use your house alarm.

• Store keys safely; away from windows and letterboxes.

• Record details of valuables and don’t keep large cash amounts at home.