New research commissioned by insurance group Churchill shows that 3,600 more burglaries were reported to police between April and June than compared to January and March. Chronicle Live reports that this equates to a 6.2% rise between the first and second quarters of this year.
The obvious explanation for the increase is the lifting of lockdown restrictions, as many people went on holiday or took trips out for the first time in over a year. The jump in the number of domestic thefts is thought to represent about £169m of stolen goods.
Steven Williams, head of Churchill home insurance, said: “With lockdown restrictions easing, it is unsurprising that people are taking advantage and leaving their homes more. Our habits have changed drastically over the past 18 months and we may have become complacent about home security as we have spent so much time there.”
The survey of 2000 people found that 69% of respondents were concerned about the security of their home as they returned to the office or went on holiday, after months of remaining at home. About 30% of all burglaries happen during the day, and about a fifth take place when the home occupiers are at work.
There are very simple steps you can take to reduce the chance of a break-in, such as always locking doors and windows when you leave the house. This is Money also advises securing the perimeter of your home, by locking outside gates, tidying away heavy instruments that could be used to break windows, and locking garden tools away in the shed.
Security cameras are a good deterrent to potential burglars, as are external lights which are activated by motion sensors. Some camera systems can be linked to the doorbell, allowing you to check the identity of callers before answering the door.
For CCTV installers in Slough, please get in touch today.
Leave A Comment