Burglaries, when and where do they occur?

You would think that most burglaries happen at night. The perpetrator all covered in black and sneaking around in the small hours. You could not be further from the truth!

Statistics

There was approximately a 6% rise in burglary rates from 398,330 to 423,137 offences to June 2017 compared with previous years. Most burglaries occurred between 6 am and 6 pm and during the summer. However, there is also a spike in the levels of crime, in the weeks before and after Christmas. This is most likely, due to the rise in high value goods stored in the home and businesses.

Opportunistic

Most burglaries are because of opportunistic thieves seeing a gap in security and taking the opportunity to take whatever is available. This means they are often coming in through your front door or an open window.

Distraction

The type of crime, where a person tricks the homeowner, or receptionist to allow them entry, and they then steal assets, is on the increase. Thieves posing as tradesmen and deliveries are often the ruse used. These thieves will often target the elderly and one parent families, or large businesses where there is a high turnover in staff.

Outbuildings

Crime statistics in the UK now include theft from outbuildings in the burglary data. Sheds and garages are not so easy to secure as your main building. They are more often the target for your average burglar. Theft of cycles, garden equipment and furniture are still making their contribution to the overall statistics. This is particularly a problem for farms and estates.

Vehicles

By the very nature, that vehicles are left in the street or car park, means they are open to acts of theft. Leaving windows open in the summer, for animals e.g., will mean the opportunistic thief can and will attempt to take items. Modern vehicles may have sophisticated alarms and keys, but thieves have found a way to open and start your vehicle using the technology against itself.

If you would like to protect yourself and your property from burglary, then please contact us for a site survey.

*Chart used contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0