Nearly 90% of burglary crimes unresolved claims new report

In Wiltshire, just 8.3 in every 100 burglary crimes was solved, meaning the perpetrator was caught and a formal punishment such as being charged, fined, or cautioned was issued. This makes it the police force authority with the lowest rate of solved burglaries over that period.

In contrast, more than three times that proportion (28.7%) of burglary crimes were solved in Dyfed-Powys police authority, which has the highest solved rate across England and Wales. 

Police force authorities with the lowest solved rates for burglary

 Churchill’s analysis also looked at the overall rate of burglaries in England and Wales for the year ending March 2015. Dyfed-Powys police has the lowest incidence of burglaries with2.5 in every 1,000 people falling victim to burglary every year. This is a stark contrast to Humberside police force authority and West Yorkshire police force authority, where 10.8 in every 1000 fall victim to this type of crime. For England and Wales as a whole, 7.2 people per 1000 of the population fall victim to burglary.

Police force authorities with the highest rates of burglary

Across England and Wales there are 3.78 full-time police officers³ for every 1,000 people, but this level is by no means uniform. In Lincolnshire – the police force with the lowest full time presence - there are just 2.09 officers per 1,000 people, whereas the Metropolitan police force, which has the highest proportion, has over double that at 5.51.

For the year ending March 2014, the proportion of adults who said they felt the police did a good or excellent job was 63 per cent⁴ – a figure that has increased consecutively over the past nine years.

Martin Scott, head of Churchill Home Insurance, said: “It’s important that householders are aware of the potential threats to their home, which vary significantly depending on where you live. There also appears to be quite a contrast between the highest and lowest authorities in terms of police officer cover, with some areas having more than double the number of full-time officers per head of the population than others.

Victims of burglary don’t just suffer from financial loss but also emotional trauma, with many subsequently feeling insecure in their own home. While some items like electrical goods are easily replaced, others with sentimental value are often lost forever once stolen. 

Whilst there are clearly big differences between burglary rates by area, the precautions householders should take remain the same. All households should have a comprehensive buildings and contents insurance policy in place in case the worse happens and burglaries do occur.”

For the year ending March 2014, the proportion of adults who said they felt the police did a good or excellent job was 63 per cent⁴ – a figure that has increased consecutively over the past nine years.

Churchill offers the following tips to help reduce the chances of household crime:

 Security measures – Install security measures such as security lights, anti-vandal/climb paint and a home alarm

  Don’t advertise – Avoid leaving packaging for expensive items outside the house if it’s in view

  Keep it clean – The ‘broken windows’ theory suggests that unmaintained properties are more susceptible to crime, so repair broken windows/tiles, keep your garden lawn in check and don’t let rubbish build up around your property

  Nobody’s home – When you’re not at home make sure the garden gate is closed, the windows are locked and if you’re away for more than a few nights use timers to switch lights on and off

  Good Neighbours – In our busy lives it can be difficult to get to know your neighbours, however maintaining a good relationship with those we live closest to can make our communities a safer and more sociable place to live