Case Studies

Safer Summer campaign

by Mark Rowe

Swinton Insurance has teamed up with security lock company Yale and TV’s Beat the Burglar presenter Dominic Littlewood to launch a Safer Summer campaign.

Swinton has analysed police recorded crime data to suggest where in the UK you are most likely to have a break in. Based on the number of burglaries recorded and the percentage of the population living in those areas, the broker’s research suggests that people in Manchester are most likely to fall victim to a burglary. This is closely followed by residents in Middlesbrough and Leeds.

London’s larger population size means that although almost 80,000 burglaries took place, the percentage of the residents that were broken into in the last 12 months is under 1pc (0.89pc), compared to 1.5pc in Manchester. Amongst those least likely to face a break in were Perth in Scotland (0.12pc were burgled), Stoke-on-Trent (0.14pc) and Exeter (0.32pc).

The areas climbing the burglary rankings the most this year are Luton (up to seventh place from tenth) and Coventry (entering the top ten from 13th place last year). Kingston Upon Hull was top of the list last year.

Dominic Littlewood says: “Many of us think of the summer as a safer time of year, but longer days, extended hours of sunshine and homes left empty for longer periods of time can cause a spike in burglaries. The good news is that there’s an awful lot you can do to keep your property safe this summer, from teaming up with neighbours to keep an eye on each other’s homes, to triple checking your windows and doors are locked, and giving your garden fence a once-over to make sure it’s intact. Even refraining from posting on social media will help, especially as we live in a world where burglars watch online activity to plan crime. Keeping schtum about your holidays and saving the bragging for when you’re back means you won’t alert would-be thieves to your home standing empty.”

Swinton also analysed social media posts from Britons between June 2017 and May 2018; its interactive social media crime map suggests a correlation between crime hotspots and risky social media posts, and which cities across the UK are at most at risk of being burgled: www.swinton.co.uk/spotlight/your-home/social-media-crime-map/.

Across the country, more than 59pc (42,858) of the posts analysed mentioned upcoming holidays, making this the highest category for over-sharing in the UK. Those in the North West were more likely (94pc more than the national average) to post about a trip, putting them in the highest risk category, followed by the North East (86pc more than the national average) and the South East (75pc more than the national average)

Anne Kirk, Customer Director at Swinton, said: “The number of burglaries has been declining in recent years, and thanks to technology we’re smarter about protecting our homes than ever before. But, unfortunately, break-ins still happen, and in some parts of the country much more so than others, especially over the summer. With the help of the security experts at Yale and TV’s Dom Littlewood we’re hoping to raise awareness of the simple things you can do to keep your homes safer.

“Should the worst happen, we also want people to feel confident if they have to make a claim on their insurance. We know it can be a really difficult time and that’s why we are on hand to help homeowners understand the terms of their policy and offer guidance on the insurance claims process in the event of a burglary, whether they are a Swinton customer or not.

Visit: www.swinton.co.uk/spotlight/your-home/securing-your-home/.

Tips for keeping your home safe over the summer

1.Hide your valuables. It sounds obvious, but most of us don’t put laptops, keys and wallets out of sight in our homes. If it can be seen from a window, it’s a problem. Always make sure these items are hidden from view.

2.Don’t let the post pile up. Doing so is a tell-tale sign someone is away. It’s best to ask a trusty neighbour to clear your letters every other day, or if you are away for several weeks, you can use the Royal Mail’s Keepsafe scheme.

3.Upgrade your security. Smart locks or smart alarms that can be controlled remotely are getting cheaper all the time. The smarter the system, the bigger the deterrent to criminals.

4.Keep the curtains open. All the curtains closed and blinds down during both the day and night is a big hint that the person inside is away. My top tip is to use timers on your lights and keep your curtains open.

5.Ask your neighbours for help. A bit of community spirit goes a long way. Ask your trusted neighbours to water your plants, go inside your house every few days to check around the place and generally be seen on the property. Activity puts off criminals so do ask, and offer to return the favour when they go away.

6.Don’t forget the garden shed. If they can’t get in the house, some criminals will try the shed for bikes, tools and whatever else they can get their hands on. Make sure the exterior of your property, including your garden, is as secure as possible before jetting off on holiday.

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