Nearly two thirds of Brits worry about being burgled...

...with a third of these worrying more at Christmas.

An Aviva survey of 2,004 UK residents reveals nearly two thirds of Brits (65%) worry about being burgled, with one in ten (10%) having these concerns every day.

The research also indicates that more than one in five homeowners (22%) who are worried about being burgled are more anxious during the winter months. A third (33%) of homeowners who are concerned about being burgled are more worried during the Christmas season.

Aviva’s own home claims data coincides with the UK’s concerns for burglaries during the darker months. In the last three years, claims for theft via forcible and violent entry have been at their highest on average during the winter months of December, January and February. 

In the past two years alone, almost a third of claims for theft via forcible and violent entry have been during winter. Aviva’s data also shows a spike in claims just after the festive period, in January. Since January 2022, there has been a 11% increase on average of claims between January and the previous December month.

January 2023 saw the highest increase in claims with 22% more than December 2022. January 2022 also saw a 10% increase in claims compared to December 2021.

Aviva urges UK residents to prioritise home security during the festive period

With just under one in ten (9%) UK residents saying they have been burgled in the last year alone, it’s easy to see why there is a concern amongst those surveyed. However, some are more relaxed with their home security than others. One in eight respondents (13%) don’t employ any security measures while they are at home and awake, and nearly half (46%) don’t lock all the doors that provide access to their property^v.

While this does improve when respondents are at home and going to sleep, more than a quarter of those surveyed (28%) still don’t lock all the doors that provide access to their homeⁱ. One in five (20%) however, say they have motion sensor lights in place to try to warn off any potential thieves.

Worryingly, even when respondents are away from their property for an extended period, such as for three days or longer, more than one in five (43%) still don’t lock all the doors that provide access to their property. On the flip side, more than one in five (21%) will activate a burglar alarm when they’re away from their home for an extended period, and 15% have working security cameras to check in on the property.

Jonathan Cracknell, underwriting manager at Aviva, says: “With a combination of new presents being gifted and the dark winter nights, December and January can present increased opportunities for thieves to strike. It’s therefore important to practise basic security measures to keep your home secure.

“Get into the habit of checking and locking all doors even when you’re at home and especially when leaving the house, and make sure keys are not within reaching distance of windows or doors. Double or automatically locking doors can also provide an extra layer of security against thieves.

“Alongside these small steps, measures such as security cameras, motion sensor lights and burglar alarms can also help deter thieves or make it trickier for burglars to enter the home without being noticed.

“It’s important to be prepared for any eventuality, so having the correct home insurance can provide extra financial protection and peace of mind, just in case the worst were to happen.”

Below, Aviva has provided some home security tips to help protect your home and belongings during the darker months:

• Install a security system. A comprehensive security system with cameras, video doorbells and alarms may help deter burglars. Displaying signs that indicate your home is protected could also be effective.
• Enhance outdoor lighting. Alongside a comprehensive security system, motion-activated lights can eliminate dark spots and act as a deterrent by alerting you to a potential burglar.
• Keep your home secure, even when in the property. Ensuring your property is secure is vital to protecting your home and belongings from incidents of vandalism or theft. If someone can easily enter a property, such as by using a key left under a plant pot, or entering through an unlocked door, there’s a chance that a claim may be declined.
• Keep your valuables out of sight. Ensure that valuable items such as laptops, tablets and jewellery, or new Christmas gifts, are not visible from windows to avoid prying eyes and opportunist thieves. It’s also a good idea to hang keys away from doors, windows, or letterboxes, as thieves can use coat hangers and fishing rods to hook them.
• Get to know your neighbours. Getting to know your neighbours and establishing a community watch can help monitor suspicious or unexpected activities around your property, enhancing neighbourhood security, especially if you’re away from home.
• Make your home seem occupied if you are away. Use timers or leave lights on if you’re out and about and aren’t going to get back before dark, or if you are away for the festive season. It’s also a good idea to leave a radio on to give the impression that someone is home.
• Let your insurer know if you are leaving your house unoccupied for a significant length of time. Leaving your home unoccupied can increase the risk of a break-in. Most insurance policies specify the number of days a property can be left empty without invalidating insurance, e.g., up to four weeks, but if you plan on leaving your property empty for a significant period of time, you should let your insurance provider know.
• Keep an inventory of belongings. Keep an updated inventory of your belongings, including new gifts purchased in the run up to Christmas, and keep hold of receipts if you have them. This can help make the claims process smoother if you do need to file one.
• Review your home contents insurance policy. It's important to understand what level of contents insurance you need. If you don't have enough, your policy might not pay out to replace all belongings after a break-in. Just over one in seven people (15%) don’t think they could provide an accurate estimation of the value of the contents in their home, but Aviva’s free home contents value calculator can help you estimate the cover you're likely to need, based on what you own. Reassess your home insurance needs annually if your needs change.

Read more information on the research.

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Methodology:

^{The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,004 Nationally Representative UK Consumers, aged 16+. The data was collected between 11.09.2024 – 13.09.2024. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles.}

References:

^{i Reverse of ‘I never worry about my home being broken into/burgled and ‘N/A’ responses combined.}

^{ii Those who have a permanent home}

^{iii Responses ranging from ‘less than a month ago’ to ’11-12 months ago’ combined}

^{iv Aviva internal claims data for theft claims which mention forcible and violent entry between December 2020 and October 2024. Seasonal data has analysed and collated the averages of Winter (December, January, February), Spring (March, April, May), Summer (June, July, August) and Autumn (September, October, November). Autumn 2024 data consists of September 2024 and October 2024 data only.}

^{v Reverse of those who say that they do this.}

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