Direct Line Reveals Heightened Burglary Risk In Winter Months

With the darker winter months creeping in consumers should be aware that their property is set to be under threat, it has been reported.

In research carried out by Direct Line Home Insurance, it was revealed that a significant number of homes have been targeted by criminals in recent years. According to the financial services provider, one in ten UK properties – an estimated 2.4 million households – have either suffered burglary or an attempt at such a crime during the past five years.

Commenting on the report, Andrew Lowe, head of Direct Line Home Insurance, said: “Opportunistic thieves may well be on the prowl as winter approaches and dark nights close in. A few security improvements may prevent you from becoming a victim of burglary and keep your possessions safe. Our research shows people living in areas with a higher rate of burglary are less likely to carry out simple security enhancements such as locking windows at night.”

However, the firm pointed out that some parts of the country could themselves being targeted by prospective thieves more often than not. In particular, it appears homes in London are most likely to be burgled, with 13 per cent of properties in the capital victim to such crime during the winter months. This is followed by the north-west and north-east where 12 per cent of homes in each of these regions has either been robbed – or attempted to have been robbed – since 2003. On the other hand, both six per cent of households in the south-west of England and Wales have only targeted by thieves.

In being a victim of burglary, consumers may discover they have to shell out money in order to replace or replace items from their home that have been damaged or stolen. This could see them struggle to manage with other demands on their spending in areas such as personal loan repayments, credit cards and utility bills.

However, it appears that as the darker nights draw in consumers are taking steps to protect their property from thieves. One of the ways this is being done is through leaving lights switched on when they leave the home to give the impression that they are inside, with 44 per cent of Britons claiming to do this. Meanwhile, eight per cent of people living in inner-city regions state to make use of security lights, with this rising to 22 per cent of adults in rural parts of the country.

For an effective means of improving the safety of a property, applying for a homeowner loan could prove to be useful. By taking out a home loan, borrowers may find that they are able to meet the expense of installing features such as locks and security lights quickly, leaving them with an affordable rate of repayment. Taking steps to make sure a home is safe could also be advisable for students after Nationwide recently reported that the typical undergraduate is likely to take items worth thousands of pounds away with them to university.

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