New data has revealed which cities are most at risk of being targeted by thieves during the summer holidays, based on how crime rates change throughout July and August.

The findings come from A-Plan Insurance, which looked at how burglary crime rates change now compared to the first half of the year – with the data showing that over half (62%) of cities analysed report a significant rise in break-ins over the summer holidays.

Homes are often burglarised during the summer due to increased opportunity, as families travel abroad or head off on a staycation, leaving their possessions vulnerable to theft.

The city that sees the biggest increase in burglaries after schools break up yearly is Coventry – with residential property break-ins seeing a massive 34% increase over summer.

Despite Warwickshire reporting the lowest rate of annual residential burglaries of anywhere in the West Midlands, Coventry has become a hotspot for thieves looking to take advantage of the homes left vacant as homeowners head off on their summer getaways.

Even for those who don’t plan to go away this year, warmer weather can pose an increased risk of theft, as homeowners open their windows and doors – and often forget to close them.

According to the Home Office police data, the number of burglaries in Coventry rose from 136 in June to an average of 182 each month throughout July, August, and early September. In Peterborough, burglary crime rates also rise by over a quarter (27%) during the summer.

Some areas in the city should be more vigilant than others, data shows, as the majority of theft-related offences have taken place on or near Kensington Road in the last three years.

On a nationwide scale, other at-risk areas include the City of London (burglaries up 26% in summer), Wakefield (up 24%), and Cambridge (21% rise).