With the festive season approaching, many of us are looking forward to cozy nights at home and time with family and friends, but as we dive into the holidays it’s important to remember that in some places, a different kind of visitor might be lurking outside.
With a rise in burglaries over Christmas in the UK, we analysed police data to identify hotspots for crime. London, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire had the highest number of burglaries over the holidays, with places like Westminster, Wye Forest, and Leeds reporting the most incidents.
Explore our festive burglary map
Regionally, London has more festive burglary hotspots than anywhere else
- Some areas in the UK outpace the rest when it comes to holiday season crime rates, and the southeast is particularly vulnerable compared to other regions in the country.
- According to the data, eight of the top 20 most burgled areas are in London, including Westminster (505), Enfield (481), Barnet (440) and Hackney (402).
- Overall, areas in London account for almost 10,000 burglaries over the festive season, more than any other place - in second place is the West Midlands, with almost 3,600 reports.
In the North, Birmingham stands out for holiday season burglaries
- Birmingham leads with nearly 1,000 burglary incidents at a city level, significantly outpacing other cities during the last festive period.
- Leeds and Sheffield also stand out as hotspots, with 588 and 438 reported incidents, respectively.
Spy Alarms Group Commercial Director Glenn Flannery says:
“Unfortunately, circumstances around this time of year can create an environment ripe for theft across the country. Homes filled with valuable gifts and others left empty as we head off on holiday can be very tempting to intruders, especially with longer nights providing cover.
A few factors contribute to this surge in London, particularly around the southeast, where the data shows a high burglary rate in November and December. Sheer density and strained police resources in some areas, for one. And in others, a high percentage of renters and short-term lets means there’s reluctance to invest in home security, which can leave people vulnerable.”
Top 20 places with the most burglary reports
People in the UK are thinking about ways to protect their homes
Unfortunately, it's not just Kevin McCallister who had to outsmart two bumbling burglars in Home Alone – people across the UK are having to be extra vigilant to protect their homes from break-ins.
In the last three months, Google searches for home protection are up, showing how serious we are about guarding what’s under the Christmas tree.
- ‘alarm systems for home’ are up 708%
- ‘burglar alarm system’ are up 581%
- ‘house alarm systems’ are up 443%
Here’s why burglaries increase over Christmas
- Early sunsets during winter give intruders more opportunities to operate under darkness.
- With many people going on holiday over this period, homes left unoccupied for extended periods can become prime targets, especially in burglary hotspots.
- Gifts and valuables are sometimes clearly visible through windows and under the Christmas tree, which can be tempting for thieves.
- Burglars often exploit our routines; the holiday season can bring predictable behaviour patterns.
Glenn says “at Spy Alarms we’ve been offering expert, practical solutions to home owners for almost 40 years. Often the thinking around home security can be overwhelming due to the myriad of possibilities on offer and therefore can be left on the to do list. The run in to Christmas is an ideal time to engage our friendly team to advise on best steps, leaving you to relax and enjoy the festive season”.
Five ways to protect your home during the holidays, according to Nigel Standen, Residential Security Surveyor at Spy Alarms
- Install a security alarm: Always keep your home protected with a security alarm, as most burglaries on alarmed homes are unsuccessful.
- Use security lighting: If you lack a CCTV system, install motion-sensitive exterior lights and use automatic timer switches for lamps or radios to create the illusion of occupancy.
- Hide your Christmas gifts: Wait to leave presents under the tree until Christmas Day; keep them out of sight from windows to avoid attracting thieves.
- Secure storage: Avoid storing valuable gifts in sheds or garages. Use trellises with spiky plants to deter climbing over walls.
- Dispose of packaging discreetly: Fold and hide discarded boxes after the holidays to prevent advertising new valuables to potential burglars.
- Lock up: Always lock doors and windows, and regularly test your burglar alarms. Most burglaries occur from 6 AM to 6 PM during the week and often involve opportunistic theft.
Read about more ways to protect your home this Christmas.
You don’t need to watch Home Alone for inspiration. We’ve got you covered
Spy Alarms provides top-tier security solutions to protect your property, offering advanced burglar alarms, CCTV systems, and 24/7 monitoring. With tailored installations and remote access options, we ensure your home is secured against intruders, giving you peace of mind while you enjoy some downtime this festive season.
Method:
We analysed and collated Police burglary data across the UK between November and December to identify Christmas crime hotspots during the festive season. Google searches courtesy of Metis.
