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Home insurance customers should take precautions to protect themselves against distraction burglars calling at homes, advises a new study.

The research, carried out by Sainsbury's Home insurance, found that over three million families had fallen prey to this rising crime trend, in the past five years.

About 6.8 per cent of Britons, that is 2.8 million people, have encountered thieving pairs who fake identities to gain access to homes.

While one robber keeps the homeowner occupied, the other stealthily sneaks about the house stealing precious items.

About £1,230 worth of goods are burgled from each house using this technique.

The most popular fake identity adopted by thieves was a representative from a utility company, reported 39 per cent of victims.

This was closely followed by a door-to-door salesman, agents from charities, building companies, church organisations, neighbours and police officers.

The research broke the myth that thieves mostly tricked pensioners and older people.

Young people aged 16 to 24 years old accounted for six per cent of the targets, totalling about 370,000 people. Another 640,000 victims, about nine per cent, fell in the 25 to 34 years old age bracket.

Despite the rising rate of crime, only 46 per cent of domestic burglary targets report the incident to the police.

Ben Tyte, Sainsbury's Home insurance manager, urged people to be proactive and report such crimes.

He pointed out that failure to report a distraction burglar could actually prevent customers from claiming Home insurance.

He added: "We'd strongly recommend that homeowners take basic steps to protect themselves, whether this is by using a door bar or chain or simply contacting an organisation if a caller arrives unscheduled."

The research also highlighted the geographical discrepancy of the crimes. With 14 per cent of residents falling victim to callers with fictitious identities, London topped the list of the most burgled city.

Recorded crime statistics for England and Wales reflect a one per cent rise in domestic burglary, although there has been a five per cent drop in all police recorded crimes.