House security is an important factor to consider for any homeowner and while crime data shows burglaries have decreased annually by 13% since 2019, it’s still important for homeowners to remain vigilant and prepared.

We’ve analysed burglary crime statistics from police constabularies across the UK to determine which of the top UK cities are more secure from burglaries. We combined this data with a consumer survey of 2,000 Brits into behaviours and attitudes towards home security, revealing which areas feel most secure in their homes.

Number of reported burglaries in the UK between 2020 – 2022

As expected, the longer and lighter nights during spring and summer can be a deterrent for burglars. April is the first full month after the clocks go forward and it’s this month that sees an average of 19,349 burglaries across the UK, the lowest number of burglaries for the past three years.

It’s widely believed that home burglaries are more likely to occur during the darker winter evenings. In fact, October is the highest month for home burglaries, with an average of 26,120 burglaries during this time over the three-year period.

This is followed very closely by November, with an average of 26,119 burglaries, then January with 24,881, and December with 24,512.

In comparing the summer (June, July, August) crime statistics to the winter (December, January, February), winter sees an increase of 17% more home burglaries across the UK, so extra precautions should be taken in those months.

During the summer months, almost three quarters (73%) of Brits feel confident in leaving their home empty for an extended period such as a holiday. During the winter months, this decreases by 5% to 68% who feel confident.

However, when it comes to the festive season, a quarter (25%) of Brits do not feel confident leaving their homes empty over Christmas.

When leaving their homes empty for an extended period, a third (31%) of Brits have someone they trust such as a family member or neighbour come in to check the property regularly and collect any post and parcels while they are away.

One fifth (20%) of Brits also leave their lights on an automatic timer to turn on during the evening/night, with a further 17% opting to completely close all curtains while away.

Furthermore, 14% of Brits choose to leave a light on constantly for the duration of their holiday, and one in ten Brits even get a trusted family member to house-sit while they are away.

Lucy Trevelyan, security expert from Toolstation, recommends that homeowners adopt the following security measures:

1. Try to make your home appear occupied – having piles of post and uncollected bins are an easy tell-tale sign that the property is unoccupied. Try to have a neighbour or family member come round to collect any post and keep the exterior looking neat and tidy.

2. Make sure all doors and windows are firmly locked with the keys hidden out of sight of any windows. While this may seem obvious, even if one lock is missed it could invalidate your home insurance – so it’s better to be certain than sorry.

3. Safely store any valuables out of sight – items such as a work or personal laptop, tablets and mobile phones are all prime targets. Make sure to keep these out of sight from any windows.

4. Have a visual security system such as a burglar alarm or CCTV cameras – having a visible security alarm on the exterior of a house is more likely to deter intruders rather than it being hidden inside the property.

5. Don’t post on social media – while many Brits love to shout about their holidays, this is also advertising an empty home to a wide audience of people. The safer option is to wait until you’re home before posting those holiday snaps.