London residents are being warned to stay vigilant after 19 July. Police data reveals that 31 of 32 boroughs saw a rise in offences when lockdown ended last summer.

As we near lockdown easing, the Metropolitan Police are expecting the same kind of surge in burglaries experienced in July 2020, when numbers shot up by 28% across London. The figures rose by as much as 72% in some boroughs.

Haringey has been identified as the highest risk area: the borough experienced the greatest spike increasing by 72% post-lockdown. This is followed by Redbridge (59%), and Westminster (57%).

To get a complete picture of how lockdowns have affected burglary rates in the capital, London criminal defence solicitors Lawtons has collated and analysed Metropolitan Police data from January to September 2020. It covers the three-month periods before, during and after the first UK lockdown. Analysis of the data tells us which boroughs are most at risk of burglary from 19 July.

Freedom of Information request data gathered from the Met Police reveals the items that are the most targeted by burglars in London. With UK spending on household items increasing by 57% in April 2021*, and spending on technology rising by 56% according to UTM merchant services, residents are being warned to keep homes secure and avoid leaving expensive items on display.

Some of the oddest items stolen include horses, zoo/farm animals, intercom systems, pet food and explosives. Underlining how determined some thieves are, sheds, phone boxes and even garden wells have also been targeted. We can provide more information upon request.

Which areas in London are high-burglary risk?

After the last lockdown was eased, some London boroughs experienced dramatic increases in burglaries. These areas are now most at risk of a post-lockdown burglary surge after 19 July.

Haringey: 72% increase

Redbridge: 59% increase

Westminster: 57% increase

Barnet: 52% increase

Kensington and Chelsea: 52% increase

Residents here will have to be most wary of an increased burglary threat in the coming months, particularly as awareness was a widespread problem after the last lockdown eased. In the July to September 2020 period, 76% of people said that they thought crime in England and Wales had either ‘stayed the same’ or ‘gone down’, according to ONS data. This stark disconnect between people’s perceptions of crime and the reality only makes residents more vulnerable.

Which areas have the lowest burglary risk?

Although burglaries increased almost everywhere in London once restrictions were lifted, some areas saw less of an impact. The following boroughs experienced the smallest rises:

Havering: 6%

Lewisham: 4%

Bromley: -3%

Bromley was the only exception in that the number of burglaries actually went down after lockdown eased. While there’s no room for complacency when it comes to home security, residents in Bromley, Lewisham and Havering can be a little more confident that their areas won’t suffer huge upticks in crime after 19 July.

How to avoid falling victim to burglary

London residents are urged to practice caution when restrictions are eased, and take the following security measures:

Double-lock your door every time you leave the house, checking that it’s locked

Make sure your windows are locked and buy window opening restrictors

Secure sheds or garages to deny burglars access to tools they could use to gain entry to your house

Protect your high-value items, such as jewellery, credit cards and identification documents by storing them in a safe, either at home or in a safety deposit vault

Keep valuable items out of your bedroom: this is the first place a burglar will look