Unlocked Homes
How security-conscious are Brits?
There were 192,060 residential burglaries in the last year, meaning on average around 526 burglaries occur every day.
With so many Brits falling victim to home break-ins, and the rise in home renovations over lockdowns, many now feel less safe in their homes and are opting to install increased home security measures.
The boom in popularity of home CCTV and smart burglar alarms means there are now more ways than ever to increase and monitor your home security. In the climate of security system installations to deter burglars, we wanted to find out how many Brits have a security system at home, along with how many people take basic precautions such as locking doors and windows while out.
We conducted a survey with 2,000 participants from the UK to find out just how security-conscious the nation is.
How many people have been burgled?
According to the Office for National Statistics, England and Wales saw 266,283 burglaries take place in the last year. With so many homes affected by this crime, we wanted to discover which age groups are most targeted by criminals.
Those aged 55 and over are most likely to have experienced a home break-in, with one in five (22.73%) indicating that they have been a victim of burglary. One in five (20.34%) people aged between 45 and 54 responded that they have been burgled. We also found that 18 and 24 are among the most likely age groups to have been burgled, with almost one in six (14.42%) having experienced a home break-in.
Young people, often students, and seniors might be at a higher risk of falling victim to a home break-in, with burglars often enticed by the possibility of stealing goods such as laptops and the perceived lack of a home security system in these properties.
How many people feel safe in their homes?
We asked our survey respondents if they feel safe and secure while at home, to understand whether gender has an impact on feeling secure inside your property.
We found that men are more likely to feel safe and secure at home, with almost two-thirds (59.88%) of males responding that they feel safe all of the time. In contrast, 53.17% of female participants provided the same response.
We also found that more female respondents feel unsafe on occasion than males, with over four in 10 (45.83%) indicating they occasionally feel insecure in their homes. This is a smaller proportion compared to the male respondents to our survey, of which over a third (36.75%) admitted to feeling unsafe on occasion.
How many Brits leave their homes at risk of burglary when out?
Securing your home by locking all entry points is vital in protecting yourself from criminals. While some Brits realise that leaving windows and doors and pet flaps unlocked, could have potential consequences in terms of home security, some are guilty of underestimating the ramifications.
Our survey found that over two-thirds (67.85%) of Brits have left their windows open while they’re out of the house, and more than two-fifths (41.8%) leave their front or back door unlocked when they leave their property. Your windows should always be locked when you're in bed and when you're out of the house and it’s even a good idea to lock the window if you are going to be in a different room for a while, as opportunist burglars may strike at any time.
We found that one in three (30%) people leave their keys inside the door lock, making them vulnerable to thieves attempting to ‘fish’ their keys through your letterbox using a hooked device. Over a quarter (27.85%) of people have left their keys on the outside of the door lock after leaving home, while one in eight (12%) have left their pet flap open.
How many people leave their doors unlocked?
Locking the door when you leave the house is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your home. However, although most of us are aware of the importance of home security, it can be all too easy to forget this essential measure when leaving your house in a rush. Returning home to realise that you left the door unlocked can be a shock, but just how often do Brits forget to secure their properties?
According to the results of our survey, over a quarter (28%) of people have left the door to their property unlocked by accident in the last year, with less than a quarter (21.8%) of people leaving it unlocked in the last month. We also found that almost one in five (18.4%) of people have left their door unlocked accidentally in the past week.
How many people have home security systems?
A home security system offers protection for your family and your property, by deterring criminals through the presence of outdoor cameras, video doorbells and signs of an alarm system.
The rise of smart home security offers an increased level of defence against burglars, thanks to the ability to check and monitor your home security from your smartphone and send you instant notifications upon the detection of suspicious activity.
We found that over one-third (34.15%) of respondents to our survey have a video doorbell installed at their property. Video doorbells often have motion sensors, send instant notifications to your handheld device and have two-way audio for your protection against intruders.
We also found that one in three (30.65%) of respondents have CCTV installed in their homes, while an equal percentage of people have no home security at all.
How many people leave their doors unlocked while at home?
Although most burglars will usually avoid targeting a house if it appears that someone is home, many break-ins take place while residents are inside their property. It is common for thieves to target a floor of the house which has no lights on, or to strike in the middle of the night.
Leaving the door unlocked while you’re at home can leave you vulnerable to intruders, but just how many Brits are guilty of underestimating the importance of locking up?
We found that around half (50.6%) of our survey respondents leave the door unlocked while they’re at home - a worryingly high proportion. In comparison, just under half (49.4%) of Brits make sure they lock their doors while at home.
According to the Office for National Statistics, as many as over three-quarters (76%) of domestic burglaries occur with the thief entering the property through the door. As one of the simplest ways to secure your house, locking the doors to your property while you’re at home is always recommended.
How many people can't sleep due to fears of home invasion?
Those who have home security concerns or have experienced a home break-in may be familiar with the anxiety and fear that can set in at night when you’re in bed. We asked Brits if they have ever struggled to sleep due to home security fears.
Over half (52.35%) of respondents have struggled with home security fears disrupting their sleep on occasion, while four in ten (40.25%) have never experienced such difficulties.
One of the best ways to combat these fears is to take precautions and ensure your home is secure. Installing a smart home security system that is professionally monitored and installed and can be checked from your phone, composite doors, security lights and window bars could help to provide an increased sense of security.