Households in some parts of the nation are far more at risk from burglars than others with official data showing MANCHESTER is the hot-spot for break-ins.
Homes in Manchester are 15 times more likely to be targeted by criminals, compared to areas with the lowest rates.
In the year ending Sept 2022, there were nearly 4,500 burglaries, attempted break-ins, and distraction burglaries in Manchester - equivalent to 20.8 per 1,000 households.
In South Devon and Dartmoor, the area where homes are safest from burglary, the rate was just 1.4 burglaries for every 1,000 households.
You can see the burglary rates for your area using the Mirror’s interactive map below, which shows the areas most affected by break-ins.
The latest Home Office data shows there were 196,000 burglaries, attempted break-ins, and distraction burglaries in England and Wales in the year ending September 2022.
KEY IN YOUR POSTCODE BELOW TO DISCOVER HOW MANY BURGLARIES PER 1,000 HOMES THERE ARE NEAR WHERE YOU LIVE
While that is well below the 266,000 crimes committed before the pandemic, it is still a 4% rise from the previous year.
After Manchester, Middlesbrough has the second highest burglary rate (19.7 per 1,000 households) and then Birmingham (17.9).
Superintendent Chris Foster, Greater Manchester Police ’s force lead for burglary, said his officers had solved 68.7% more burglaries in the year to February than the previous year, and the number of suspects arrested on suspicion of burglary had increased by 42.1%.
He added: "Fighting burglary is a priority and the force is evidently improving the service provided to communities across Greater Manchester and victims of crime - arresting more suspects and progressing more cases to courts.
"It goes without saying, however, that there is more hard work to be done. Though it has reduced, the number of burglaries being committed in Greater Manchester is still too high.”
The data shows there is a north-south divide when it comes to burglary. Of the top 10 areas most likely to be burgled last year, all but two of them are in the North.
The other two areas were Birmingham and Westminster, where there were 16 burglaries for every 1,000 households, the highest rate in London.
At the other end of the spectrum, the four areas with the lowest rates of burglary are all in the South West, while none of the top 20 safest areas are in the North.
Deputy Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Burglary said: "The number of burglaries is at an all-time low, down 51% over the past decade due to increased investment by police and partners in preventing them happening in the first place.
"In 2022 chief constables across England and Wales committed to the police attending all reported domestic burglaries. This reflects the deep impact burglaries have on victims and their sense of safety. It will help us support victims, give prevention advice and bring more offenders to justice.”
Home security expert Jonathan Wall, UK general manager at SimpliSafe, believes the number of terraced houses and rented properties in places like Manchester might contribute to the relatively high burglary rate there.
He said opportunistic burglars are more likely to spy something worth stealing through a window in a neighbourhood with a lot of terraced houses, which normally have higher footfall than a private estate.
Mr Wall said: "The North West has a higher percentage of terraced houses (31%) which may contribute to Manchester, Bolton, and Oldham being on the list.”
He added: "Homes with little to no security and rented properties may also be burgled more often, or those located in low-traffic areas - which could correlate with population dense areas such as Manchester and Birmingham.”
To help protect your home against burglary:
Keep your windows and doors closed when heading out or going to bed - and make it a habit to double-check.
If you have a garage or shed, use it. Don’t leave bikes, vehicles, and tools in the garden or on the driveway on display.
Burglars may keep an eye on a property to suss it out. Blinds are a good way to improve privacy, whether you’re in or out, and you could close the curtains when it starts to get dark. Consider having smart lights you can set to turn on if you’re away or controlled via an app.
Make sure your home security is up to date and indoor and outdoor cameras are in place to capture crucial evidence.
Top 10 burglary hotspots
Manchester
20.8
Middlesbrough
19.7
Birmingham
17.9
Doncaster
17.8
Bolton
17.1
Hartlepool
16.5
Sheffield
15.6
Oldham
15.5
Westminster
15.5
Kingston upon Hull, City of
15.4
