Burglary knows no geographical limitations. Although burglars do not spare almost any region across the United Kingdom they still tend to be concentrated in some areas than others, which make these hotspots. The annual Burglary Claims Tracker at MoneySuperMarket revealed the nation’s burglary claim hotspots, and once again London and Greater London postcodes dominate-with 14 of the top 20 postcodes in the region listed.
You are also most likely to be a victim in the regions of Essex and East London. Woodford and South Woodford (E18) in east London is the postcode with the fifth highest number of claims.
Kevin Pratt, home insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “The research reveals Dagenham is the UK’s top burglary hotspot, with a rate of 55 out of every 1,000 insurance quotes having made a claim in the past two years. (knocking last year’s leader, Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester down to third place) …Burglars often target urban areas where there’s more hustle and bustle and so less risk of being caught, but not surprisingly they also follow the money, which is why affluent areas such as Teddington and Temple Newsam in West Yorkshire appear.” Indeed, as urban areas are mostly targeted as burglars have a preference for higher density areas, whereas some burglars prefer those quiet regions with less risk yet higher returns.
Among the areas with the lowest proportion of burglary claims are postcodes in rural Scotland’s Dumfries (DG1) and Lochee (DD2), Felixstowe in Suffolk (IP11) and North Wales’s university town of Bangor (LL57). Those living in the seaside resort of Bognor Regis (PO22) can also feel secure, with a rate of 1.63 per 1,000 and Northern Ireland’s Londonderry (BT48), with just 1.36 per 1,000 insurance quotes showing a claim.
The top 10 postcodes are:
1. RM8 – Dagenham, Becontree, Becontree Heath, in Greater London
2. IG2 – Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Aldborough Hatch, in Greater London
3. M21 – Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Barlow Moor, in Manchester
4. DN2 – Intake, Wheatley, Wheatley Hills, in South Yorkshire
5. E18 – Woodford and South Woodford, in London
6. RM11 – Hornchurch, Emerson Park, Ardleigh Green, in Greater London
7. TW11 – Teddington, Fulwell, Bushy Park, in Greater London
8. BD2 – Eccleshill, Five Lane Ends, parts of Undercliffe, Fagley, Wrose, Bolton Woods, Poplars Farm, Swain House, Ashbourne, in West Yorkshire
9. EN4 – Hadley Wood, Cockfosters, East Barnet, New Barnet, in Greater London
10. IG3 – Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Hainault, Chignell, in Greater London
“But just because somewhere is named a claim hotspot, it doesn’t actually mean the area in question is not a nice place to live.” And just because your area in not in the unfortunate list does not mean you should let your guard down. Mr Pratt added: “Homeowners should be vigilant about home safety wherever they live, by ensuring that security measures have been put in place, and appropriate insurance taken out.” Mark Castle, chief executive of the charity Victim Support, said: “…We know how devastating an impact this crime can have and we are here to help. Victims tell us that they suffer far more than material loss when their home is burgled – the psychological impact of this crime can be drastic, long-lasting and different for everyone.’
Always ensure that your property is secure through the following simple measures:
- Verify the entrances of your property – doors, windows and patio doors. Ensure locks are fully functioning and implement a more solid barrier where necessary – see RSG Security Products Range for more information.
- Keep valuables out of sight – keys, jewelleries, tablets, etc.
- Mark your valuables with a UV pen, by engraving or by photographing.
- Tools kept outside the house such as garden tools should be out of reach and stored in a safe storage.
- Implement defensive landscaping and gravel on walkways where possible.
- Install and activate 24/7 alarm, surveillance camera and lighting systems.
If you have concerns about the security of your premises, speak to us on 0208 123 1088 or get in touch via our security contact page.
