According to new data from home security specialists, ADT, there were 191,094 residential burglaries in England and Wales last year, up 1.8% from 2021. That equates to almost 524 burglaries every single day. With summer holidays in full swing and many of us spending more time away from our homes, there's never been a better time to be vigilant. Click or scroll on as we highlight the UK's burglary hotspots, plus the most popular items taken by thieves and the steps you can take to deter intruders.
Before we reveal the safest and most at-risk places for home burglaries, let's discuss the items that thieves love. According to ADT, "intruders are most likely to steal money, including cash, cards, wallets and purses from your home". In fact, these items are stolen in 40% of all UK break-ins. Jewellery and watches are taken in 32% of cases, while computers are snatched 23% of the time: "Laptops and tablets are especially easy for thieves to carry and conceal after entering your home," ADT says. Secure items like this in a home safe to avoid enticing criminals. Now, let's find out which areas are most at risk of burglaries...
Topping ADT's list as the area most vulnerable to burglary in England and Wales is Middlesbrough. Located in Teesdale, this large industrial town is home to around 143,900 residents, according to the 2021 Census. An affordable place to live, homes here average at just £152,790. However, there is a downside. Cleveland Police reported 22 residential burglaries for every 1,000 households last year. Those living in Middlesbrough are "11 times more at risk of burglary than residents of the least targeted areas on our list," ADT says. In fact, the town has the highest burglary rate of all local authorities.
In second place is one of the UK's largest and most densely populated cities, Manchester. Home to 552,000 people, Manchester is known around the world thanks to its two high-profile football teams. The city's large population, including students, and its thriving sports scene no doubt contributed to the fact that last year, it experienced 20 burglaries for every 1,000 households. Despite Manchester’s reputation for being safer than other large cities like London, it "has a higher residential burglary rate than all of the London boroughs", ADT confirmed.
The third northern local authority in the top three is Doncaster. This South Yorkshire city has around 308,100 residents and in 2021 was named one of the top ten most dangerous places in England. Probably due to this, property prices here tend to be on the cheap side, with the average pad selling for a mere £181,279. However, prospective buyers should be aware that in 2022, local residents faced 18 burglaries for every 1,000 households.
The fourth-most at-risk place is Britain's second-largest city, Birmingham. Like many former industrial towns, Birmingham residents suffered from mass unemployment when its factories either closed or were modernised with machinery during the 20th century. Skip forwards to 2021 and some 33,000 people lost their jobs, with "15% of the city’s population now out of work," according to The Independent. This level of unemployment no doubt played a role in the 17 burglaries for every 1,000 households the city experienced in 2022. The statistics aren't surprising when you consider Birmingham is home to more than 1.1 million people.
Next up, it's another spot in the north of England. Hartlepool is a port town in County Durham with an estimated population of 522,100, which makes it the second-largest settlement in the county after Darlington. Again, property prices here are cheap and you can often find affordable auction homes. Those that sell traditionally do so for the average price of £152,953. Sadly though in 2022, for every 1,000 homes, there were 16 burglaries.
Yet another northern city on ADT's list, Kingston Upon Hull landed in joint fifth place alongside Hartlepool, with 16 burglaries for every 1,000 households in 2022. With around 267,100 residents, Hull is the fourth-largest city in the Yorkshire and Humber region and it's a hub for education with countless colleges and the University of Hull drawing thousands of students every year. This, and the fact Hull is a port city, could play a role in its high number of home burglaries.
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester and the seventh northern location to land on ADT's list of the most at-risk spots for burglaries in England and Wales. Bolton has around 296,000 residents and during the Industrial Revolution, was one of the largest and most productive centres for cotton spinning in the world. In 2021, 10,205 people in Bolton were out of work and claiming benefits – that's 5.6% of the population. Today, the former industrial town sees 15 burglaries for every 1,000 homes.
Matching Bolton's statistics is fellow Greater Manchester town, Oldham. The two places are less than 20 miles away from one another, or 30 minutes by car, highlighting that this part of northwest England is suffering from a burglary crisis. Slightly smaller than Bolton, Oldham is home to 242,100 people and properties here average at a mere £194,686.
In shared ninth-place are five English spots north of the West Midlands, the first of which is Redcar and Cleveland. With 14 burglaries per every 1,000 households, this coastal town in North Yorkshire only has around 136,500 residents, which makes these statistics even more eye-opening. In 2021, Redcar and Cleveland was named one of the worst UK spots for quality of life, with high levels of child poverty and youth unemployment, as well as poor school performance records.
Staggeringly, there's yet another Greater Manchester town on ADT's list. Rochdale has a population of around 223,800 and lies 11 miles north of Manchester. In the 19th century, Rochdale became a mill town and a centre for textile manufacture, but again, as factories were closed down, the area saw a sharp downturn in job opportunities, leading to mass unemployment and many struggling to make ends meet. Today, the town witnesses 14 burglaries for every 1,000 homes.
Just 14 miles down the road from Rochdale is our next city, Salford. Located in Greater Manchester, this was another textile processing hub during the Industrial Revolution and was, for many years, overlooked, with the centre of neighbouring Manchester taking centre stage. However, in recent years Salford has seen a bit of a renaissance, with important UK broadcasting houses, including the BBC, relocating to the city due to its appealing property prices and is now home to around 269,900 people. Like Rochdale, Salford residents experience 14 burglaries per every 1,000 households.
Another former Industrial Revolution boom town – we're sensing a theme here – Sheffield is a densely popular city in South Yorkshire. Once known as the 'Steel City', it's now home to 556,500 people and has two universities, meaning countless students flock here every year. This might have something to do with the fact that last year, Sheffield witnessed 14 burglaries per every 1,000 households.
The final spot on ADT's top 10 areas most at risk of burglary in England and Wales goes to Solihull. This West Midlands market town is surprisingly idyllic, with a pretty centre filled with historic buildings. Interestingly, in 2013 it was named the best place to live in Britain by the Mail Online. Today, it has a population of approximately 216,200 people and is a gateway to nearby Birmingham, with train services connecting the two in under 15 minutes. With all these coming and goings, Solihull experienced 14 burglaries per 1,000 households in 2022.
Now let's explore the UK's safest places...
According to ADT data, one of the areas least at risk of burglary in England and Wales is Breckland, a local government district in Norfolk. This pretty area is green and tranquil, covering an area of 1,035 square kilometres. Home to around 141,500 residents, Breckland saw just two incidents of home break-ins per 1,000 households in 2022, which makes it an extremely safe place to live. However, homes here aren't exactly cheap, with the average coming in at £314,000.
Interestingly, another ultra-safe Norfolk district is Broadland. Stretching 552.4 square kilometres, the area was named after the Norfolk Broads and is home to pretty and historic villages, beautiful National Parks and wild wetlands. If you own a home in this district, which encompasses hamlets such as Reedham (pictured) and Wroxham, you're in safe hands because, in 2022, only two burglaries were recorded for every 1,000 households.
Another place that only sees two burglaries per 1,000 households, is the Isle of Anglesey. Located off the mainland's northwest coast, this Welsh island is known for its gorgeous coastline, pretty seaside towns and medieval castles. Now, it can also be celebrated for being extremely safe. Covering around 714.8 square kilometres, Anglesey is home to around 69,800 people and, thanks to its quiet and off-the-beaten-track location, is a very peaceful place to live.
An idyllic island off the south coast of England, the Isle of Wight is celebrated for its ridiculously stunning coastline and pristine beaches. Just a short ferry ride from mainland Portsmouth, this island might be isolated but it's undeniably beautiful. As such, you can expect to pay around £375,049 for a house here and luckily residents can relax in the knowledge that only two burglaries per 1,000 households take place every year.
A stunning county town in East Sussex, Lewes is around nine miles inland from the coast and is, for obviously reasons, a very sought-after place to buy a home. Not an affordable spot, the average house in Lewes will set you back a cool £591,253 and currently, the town has around 100,000 residents. Last year, only two burglaries per 1,000 households were recorded in this idyllic locale.
Made up of picturesque towns like East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Lindfield, Mid Sussex forms part of the historic county of Sussex. Covering an area of around 334 square kilometres, the region has approximately 152,600 residents and 63,300 households, as of 2021. The area's low population figures and spread-out hamlets might have something to do with the fact Mid Sussex only experienced two burglaries for every 1,000 houses last year.
Encompassing the northern region of the county of Norfolk, North Norfolk benefits from 45 miles of coastline, endless Blue Flag beaches and spectacular countryside, which is why it's such a popular place to buy a house. Villages in the area include Cromer, Sheringham and Cley-next-the-Sea, and the average home will set you back £365,126. Just like the other safest places on ADT's list, only two burglaries per 1,000 households occurred in the region in 2022.
Interestingly, the Staffordshire Moorlands District of England is sandwiched between some of the UK's most at-risk places for burglaries – Manchester and Birmingham – and yet, this attractive region only experienced two burglaries per 1,000 households in 2022. The district's rural locale and sparsely populated villages is likely the reason. What's even better, house prices here are way below the national average at just £192,037.
The final location on our list, with two burglaries per 1,000 households in 2022, is Wealden. Part of East Sussex, the district encompasses some truly idyllic hamlets, like Laughton and Hailsham. It also stretches all the way to the south coast, where the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs can be found. The region is home to around 160,100 people, but properties here don't come cheap. In fact, you can expect to pay £557,000, on average, for a piece of the real estate pie. So, what measures can you take to discourage burglars?
So what are the best ways to make your property less appealing to thieves? Installing a home security system will allow you to monitor your home 24 hours a day and some even call the police when the intruder alarm is triggered. Locking your doors and windows, especially when you're out, is an obvious one but easy to forget. While placing keys out of sight will ensure you don’t become a victim of key fishing, where criminals steal your keys through your letterbox. Leaving a few lights on when you're out also gives the impression you're at home, while storing high-value items in a safe will keep them secure.
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