Homeowners in London can have peace of mind that they are amongst the least likely to get burgled in the UK, according to new research out today*.

With over 380,000** burglaries recorded annually in England and Wales alone, the 2020 Property Security Study produced by home security retailer safe.co.uk, takes a forensic look at how secure the nation’s homes are.

Each property, its location and even price was assessed independently using criteria ranging from the levels of CCTV kit and types of window locks installed, through to the time, at which the owners occupy their home each day. This, of course, will be different in other places including in other parts of the world, that is why no matter where you live you will need to take the proper precautions to ensure your safety is key. If you have moved into an older home you may want to have the locks changed by a Locksmith Bentleigh service or a local company, so that you can have the peace of mind needed to feel safe in your home.

Londoners can breathe a sigh of relief with their homes assessed to be the most secure in the UK. An impressive 58% of homeowners own 4-6 internal and external security cameras, 20% live in more secure mid-terrace properties and 25% fit their front door with a multi-point locking system – key factors analysed that contributed to the capital’s high ranking.

On a national level, the report exposes that millions of homeowners have inadequate levels of security to beat the burglar, with a staggering 68% of respondents not protecting their home with a standard burglar alarm. Only one in five of us invest in CCTV and despite the increased sophistication and methods used by burglars – a mere 13% beef-up their defences with smart security devices and cameras.

The most paw patrols happen in Bristol with 40% of homeowners owning a guard dog, compared to just 16% in Norwich who don’t rely on a canine companion to deter criminals.

The following league table – listing in order the best to least protected properties – highlights where each city ranks in the home security stakes, with London sitting at 4th:

Glasgow
Newcastle
Liverpool
London
Leeds
Sheffield
Southampton
Bristol
Birmingham
Belfast
Nottingham
Norwich
Manchester
Edinburgh
Cardiff

The study analysed all security criteria in relation to average house prices. Homeowners living in the lowest value properties – costing between 0- 100,000 – invest the most in home security kit to protect their pad. Over half (51%) of residents living in a property costing under 50,000 own a burglar alarm, whilst 34% invest in state-of-the-art CCTV security – 14% above the national average. In contrast, those living in properties valued between 450,000 – 500,000 have the most ineffective security measures and ranked bottom.

In light of an increase in burglaries motivated by a desire to steal a vehicle, a worrying one in five respondents still leave their car keys on display in a porch or hallway by the front door. A surprising 14% even hang them on a keyring in the front door lock at night.