Revealed: Top Burglary Hotspots in the UK

New data from the UK’s leading price comparison website, MoneySuperMarket has revealed the postcodes with the most burglary claims across the UK.

Research comes from their updated burglary hotspots tool which is based on analysis of 3.1 million home insurance claims over the last two years.

According to the results, Swindon postcodes SN1 have the highest chance of being burgled (2.024%), whilst those living in postcodes SN11 are least likely to be targeted (0.166%).

The research also reveals that burglaries are most common in the cold, dark months with claim numbers 12% higher in autumn than in the summer. Houses also remain the preferred target of burglars and are 70% more likely to be burgled than flats.

Emma Garland, data scientist at MoneySuperMarket, has commented on factors that might make your house a target and how you can prevent a burglary.

“Our research shows that burglary claims are continuing to rise, adding up to £50 to your premium. This could be down to burglars targeting more affluent areas, in order to steal desirable and expensive items. People in these areas are often more likely to have home insurance - simply because they can afford it – so we could see more claims as a result.

“It could also be because we’re seeing an increasing amount of people owning high value portable tech such as wireless headphones, fitness trackers, tablets and smartphones. These are all easy to steal, potentially contributing to the rise in the number of claims.

“Whatever the reason, it’s increasingly important to protect your home against theft. One option could be to look at the type of locks you currently have in your home, to help bolster the security of your doors and windows. Further measures such as burglar alarms, security lights and timers on your indoor lights that give the illusion of occupancy are all deterrents to burglars.

“Regardless of where you live, it’s always worth ensuring that you’ve got the right level of contents insurance cover for your needs. Shopping around could save you up to up to 41.70% (equivalent to £90.17) on your existing dealII.”

You can check your postcode and neighbouring areas by visiting MoneySuperMarket’s interactive Burglary Claims Tool as well as information on how to protect your home and reduce the likelihood of being burgled.