Burglary fears rise as one in thirty ¹ UK homes burgled

26^th April 2005

The findings highlight that almost half of Britons (47 per cent) are concerned about encountering an intruder in the home, although 29 per cent are unaware of what action they can legally take to protect themselves should this happen.

45 per cent say they would use physical force if they encountered an intruder, including more than a quarter (27 per cent) of women (3).

And these concerns are not restricted to urbanites, as 43 per cent of Britons living in rural areas expressed concern that they may interrupt an intruder, compared to 40 per cent of inner city residents.

On a more positive note, the Direct Line survey also highlights that community spirit is alive and kicking - seven in ten vigilant Britons actively look out for their neighbours' homes, with half admitting they would investigate if they saw anything untoward taking place.

Reported rising crime statistics (48 per cent) and lack of visible police on the beat (44 per cent) are among the reasons why people expect to be burgled. A further one in five surveyed blames the area they live in for the inevitability of a break-in.

Simon Ziviani from Direct Line Home Insurance comments:

"Our research shows that there is growing concern about burglary among homeowners, and coming face-to-face with an intruder is a particular anxiety.

"However many homeowners do not have sufficient security measures in place and as a result are making themselves unnecessarily vulnerable to the threat of break-ins. Two thirds do not have a burglar alarm, and even more worrying, almost four in ten (39 per cent) do not have adequate locks on their doors and windows."

For a competitive quote on home and contents insurance, telephone 0845 246 0355 or buy online at www.directline.com.

-ends-

Simon Ziviani
Direct Line Press Office
Tel: 0845 878 2270
Email: simon.ziviani@directline.com

Notes to editor

The research was carried out online between 18th –21st February 2005. YouGov interviewed a total of 2,040 UK adults aged 18 and above. Results were weighted to be representative of the UK population.

1. This is supported by recent British Crime Survey statistics that show that an estimated 943,000 domestic burglaries took place in 2003-2004 (Home Office Statistical Bulletin Wales and England 2003-2004) and that 3.2 per cent of homes in Wales and England were burgled.

2. According to the Census 2001, the population of Great Britain is 58,789,194. 14 per cent said they expect to be burgled within the year – 14 per cent of 58,789,194 is 8.2 million people.

3. 64 per cent of men said they would use physical force if they came face-to-face with an intruder in their home

4. Direct Line offers discounts of up to 17.5% for approved house alarms, door and window locks.

Tips on securing your home

1. Ensure exterior doors are fitted with a mortice deadlock or lock conforming to British Standard (BS) 3621:1998 or a higher specification.
2. Ensure that all windows are locked before leaving your home unattended, and window keys should not be visible from the outside.
3. Security weak spots – check around your house for security weak spots e.g. concealed entrances, poor lighting, easily opening doors and windows.
4. Security mark your valuables with your postcode and house number; or keep a photographic or video record of them. If you are burgled it can help to make recovery much easier and can help when making a claim.
5. Ensure your contents are fully covered. To do this go through your home, room by room and write down what it would cost to replace each item at today's prices.
6. Regularly review your cover, especially if you decide to upgrade 'thief attractive' items like audio and video equipment.

Full guide can be found on www.directline.com/home.