Former burglar shares 11 ways to protect your home as autumn ‘theft season’ begins

Householders are being warned to be on their guard over the coming weeks as longer nights and autumn events could provide greater opportunities for burglars.

Insurance giant Aviva said data from 2019 reveals that UK home theft claims increased by 10 per cent during October and November, compared to the monthly average between January and September that year.

While theft claims fell in 2020 when people were spending more time at home due to coronavirus restrictions and nationwide lockdowns, Aviva reports that they are beginning to rise again, with an increase of 33 per cent between January 2021 and September 2021.

Upcoming events like Halloween and Bonfire Night could mean that people are leaving their homes to enjoy ‘trick or treating’ or community celebrations, potentially leaving their properties unguarded against thefts.

Around 60 per cent of households across the UK are planning to leave their homes for these two autumnal events, according to Aviva.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlights when burglars are most likely to strike.

Burglary peak times

• 62% during the hours of darkness
• 58% at dawn
• 4% at dusk

And with the clocks going back at the end of the month and more people returning to offices, the combination of factors could give burglars an unwelcome break into people’s homes.

There is also evidence that people’s household habits could provide opportunities for burglars.

These include:

• 21% of UK householders admit they have gone to bed and forgotten to lock an external door
• 20% have written details of external engagements on calendars – potentially telling people when their homes will be unoccupied
• 15% have left keys on the outside of their door, when letting themselves in.

Sarah Applegate, Data Insights Lead for Aviva said: “Theft claims fell during 2020 when many people were at home more, but we are now beginning to see them creep up again as individuals get out and about. Community celebrations, combined with the return to offices, could pave the way to potential break-ins, so we’d urge people to be vigilant, particularly during the darker months.

“A seasoned burglar will know how to spot a property where nobody’s home and will use calendar events to their advantage, but with a few simple steps, there are ways people can minimise their chance of being targeted. No-one wants an unwelcome visitor, so now is a great time to review home security measures.”

Aviva has teamed up with former burglar Michael Fraser to reveal home security weak spots so that everyone can make sure their homes and valuable are protected this autumn.

Former burglar Michael Fraser reveals 11 weak spots in your home

• Be careful about what you have on show – don’t be tempted to display expensive items through your windows
• If you have more than one lock on your door, use them – burglars can get a sense of how easily a door will open by simply pushing a foot against it. Aviva research suggests almost a quarter (23%) of people with double locks don’t always use both
• Remember that your home is a reflection of your attitude to security – if you don’t have window locks or alarms, you might look like an easy target
• Use a cage on your letterbox – this can prevent people from getting items such as keys, by fishing through your letterbox using a pole
• Don’t leave keys near your external doors, particularly on easily accessible surfaces, such as a hall table – keep them hidden away where there’s no easy access
• Be mindful that people don’t need to be near your home to check out its security levels – online street maps allow burglars to view your home from the comfort of theirs
• Know that burglars can often spot a fake or disused alarm box – for example, if it’s dirty and therefore not being serviced, or doesn’t have connections running into the box
• A cat or dog at the home might also suggest that a burglar alarm isn’t being used, as they could trigger it
• Make sure your upstairs levels are protected – nearly a quarter of UK households have left upstairs windows open when going out, but even a little gap can allow someone to get in
• If you have a burglar alarm, make sure you use it upstairs too – many households turn on just the downstairs alarms
• Consider getting a gate if there’s scope to put one onto your property – if you have one already, make sure you shut it as this can act as an important psychological barrier to deter burglars, as well as a physical one

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As well as making sure your home is as secure as it can be, review your home insurance needs in case the worst happens. Don’t forget to check the policy to make sure that all your treasured items, especially the high-value ones, are covered – find out more on the Aviva website here.

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