UK Burglary Statistics – How to Protect Against the Biggest Threats

UK burglary statistics show that in the year ended March 2022, there were 192,060 police recorded home burglaries across England and Wales, equating to 526 home burglaries per day, and a house being burgled every 164 seconds. These shocking statistics bring home the importance of taking steps to secure your home and your valuables against this type of crime.

For the period 2021/2022, the London Metropolitan area suffered the most home burglaries, with 40,309 reported to the police, translating as 110 burglaries per day, or one house being burgled every 13 minutes.

These figures are cause for concern enough. But when you start to break things down, the statistics become even more worrying. The Office for National Statistics produced a summary of the long-term trends in burglary, showing the following:

70% of burglaries involve the offender entering the property through an unlocked door, with almost 60% targeting the front door. Only 30% involve entry through a window.

More than 50% of domestic burglaries happened when someone was at home.

Around 40% of domestic burglaries occur during the day, specifically between 6am and 6pm.

60% of all burglaries take place during the evening or night time, specifically between 6pm and 6am.

The average value of stolen goods is £2,856 per household.

Almost half of burglaries generally were carried out by someone the victim knew, at least by sight.

What’s more, according to UK home burglary statistics, 47% of burglaries happened on a spur of the moment basis, with intruders seizing opportunities on the spot.

Even worse is that 2021 UK burglary statistics show that in 7% of cases, burglars came to the front door and pushed the occupant aside to enter the property.

How to combat burglary threats?

Let’s take each statistic and see how we can work towards protecting against the individual threats.

“70% of burglaries involve the offender entering the property through an unlocked door.”

Surprisingly, people are failing to actually lock their doors. Bringing this statistic alongside the one that shows 50% of burglaries happen when someone is at home, you can deduce that some homeowners are leaving their doors unlocked whilst they are indoors. Perhaps whilst watching TV of an evening, spending time in the garden during the warmer months, or even going to bed of a night.

So the main piece of advice here is to lock your doors, even when you are at home. If you are concerned about fire safety and being able to get out fast when it matters without having to find your keys, opt for a lock with a turn knob on the inside rather than a key lock. A letterbox hood or security grille fitted to the back of a glazed door panel will prevent unwanted access to the knob.

“60% of all burglaries take place during the evening or night time, specifically between 6pm and 6am.”

Protecting your property during the hours of darkness is vital. Outdoor security lighting will make you feel safer as you arrive home, as well as making it easier to identify after dark callers. Security lighting also acts as a deterrent to opportunistic intruders. Options include dusk till dawn lighting that stays on continuously during the hours of darkness, or motion-triggered sensor lighting that comes on when someone is in the vicinity.

A light switch timer will automatically switch your lights on and off when you’re not at home to make the property look occupied. They’re also helpful if you don’t like coming home to a dark house. Smart home control systems allow you to switch your lights on and off remotely from a smartphone app, as well as your heating, so are well worth considering.

“47% of burglaries happened on a spur of the moment basis.”

Properties that look like easy pickings are the ones that will fall under this category. One of the biggest downfalls is having valuables on show through your windows. That high-tech TV hanging on the wall; the expensive artwork over the mantle; jewellery or car keys on the coffee table and Christmas presents under the tree. All of these are tempting for a would-be intruder, who may like what they see too much to pass it by.

Opportunistic intruders are also on the lookout for unlocked doors, open and accessible windows, and concealed entrances where they can force entry without being seen.

Keeping curtains and blinds closed is the name of the game. You can also add your window dressings to your app-controlled smart home, allowing you to remotely open and close them to make it look like you are home.

Making sure your valuables are out of sight is another important piece of advice. And, going back to those doors, and the windows, make sure they are locked, and windows that are accessible, such as those on the ground floor or over a flat roof, are closed or on limiters so that they cannot be opened sufficiently for someone to gain entry.

Also make sure that there is nothing obscuring the view to your main entrance door form the street, which would act as cover for an intruder.

“In 7% of cases, burglars came to the front door and pushed the occupant aside to enter the property.”

The big message here is to be careful when opening your front door. A spy hole will allow you to see who’s there, but a video doorbell goes that bit further by allowing you to actually speak to the caller and check their identity.

Some video doorbells include motion detection, and will send you an alert when someone is outside the door, even if they haven’t pressed the doorbell. Using the two-way voice feature, you can question their presence, which if it is dubious, will usually shock them into making a quick exit.

Don’t make the mistake of failing to acknowledge callers though. Some would-be intruders will take your silence as there being no one home. This is where a video doorbell can be beneficial, as you can answer the door wherever you are. Upstairs, in the garden, at work or out walking the dog.

Barry Bros Security – keeping people safe in their homes for seven decades

At Barry Bros Security, we have been helping homeowners feel safe in their surroundings for more than 70 years.

If the latest UK burglary statistics have got you worried, and you would like some personalised advice on staying safe in your home and warding off the risk of burglars, we are ready to assist.  Please feel free to get in touch, or visit us in person to discuss your home security needs with a member of our team at our London showroom.