Burglaries Could Be On The Rise

When a burglar enters a victim's home, they typically cause £1,413 worth of damage, steal £2,856 of goods and leave 84% of victims in emotional distress.

Britons are being urged to secure their homes against a potential surge of burglaries when lockdown ends.

There was a 20 per cent drop in house burglaries last year compared to 2019, according to the analysis of government crime figures by the home insurance company Hiro. Criminals' overall takings were down by £103million in 2020 as homeowners spent most of their time in their properties. This equated to individual losses for burglars and thieves of £12,954.

As the UK approaches easing restrictions amid the vaccination drive, insurance providers are warning homeowners to protect their properties proactively. There are now fears of a domestic burglary resurgence as the nationwide vaccination rollout progresses and lockdown restrictions ease.

As people begin returning to offices and heading off on holidays, many homes could soon be left vacant for long periods for the first time since March last year, encouraging burglars to try and take advantage. Recent data from an online staycation booking service shows a 92% increase compared to this time last year.

Many families have spent extra money on home entertainment to ease lockdown boredom, including a 121% rise in gaming technology sales providing further impetus for burglars.

Now is the perfect time to act and to make sure your home is as safe as possible. Burglars will be looking to take advantage of any perceived weaknesses, and nothing will be more appealing than the sight of poor-quality locks. Extra locks on doors and windows will surely help. There are also some simple steps that homeowners can take to deter criminals and simulate occupancy using smart home technology devices.

Investing in smart home technology can help to deter or catch burglars in the act. More than 50% of UK households now own at least one smart home tech device.

Domestic burglaries both inside and outside a property are most likely to happen on a weekday. Over two thirds (69%) of thefts from inside a property took place between Monday and Friday, and more than half (59%) also happened during the day.5

When it comes to burglaries from outside the property, such as a driveway or garden, unsurprisingly, over half (57%) of thefts happen between 6 pm and 6 am. Nearly a quarter (24%) occurs between midnight and 6 pm when people are most likely to be asleep.5

Make sure your home is as safe as possible. In many cases, people already own some smart technology that can help make a difference. Research has found that 70% of smart home tech owners have not claimed in the last five years.

Installing CCTV can be a good deterrent for burglars, as they worry about revealing their identity to the police. Fitting security cameras for potential intruders to see may act as a deterrent, and cameras are commonly fitted on the front or back doors as this can be the first-place burglars start.

sam@srhi.co.uk

Tel: 0333 335 35 36

51 Geoffrey Blackwell Close, Coggeshall CO6 1FP, United Kingdom