The latest analysis of crime data from the Office for National Statistics has identified West Yorkshire as the burglary hotspot in England and Wales, with approximately one in every 94 homes falling victim to theft in this region. Following closely behind are Cleveland at 10.4 burglaries per 1,000 households and South Yorkshire at 10.1.
Despite the Metropolitan Police in Greater London recording the highest number of burglaries at 32,610, it ranked fourth with a rate of 9.5 incidents per 1,000 households. West Midlands rounded out the top five with 9.1 burglaries per 1,000 households. These findings were revealed in a study conducted by SJL Insurance Services.
On a national scale, there were 154,161 residential burglaries reported by the police across England and Wales in the 12 months leading up to December 2025, marking a 12% decrease from the previous year. However, the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates the actual total to be around 327,000, capturing crimes that go unreported to the police.
Craig Morgan, an insurance expert at SJL, expressed concern over the high burglary rates in specific areas, emphasizing that many residents may not realize the extent of their risk until it’s too late. Burglars tend to target homes during early morning hours when the streets are quiet, homes are dark, and residents are less likely to notice suspicious activities. It is crucial to ensure home safety even during daytime hours, especially when the house is unoccupied.
To help mitigate risks, home insurance expert Matthew Harwood from Confused.com shared seven essential checks to perform before leaving the house. It is recommended to stay informed with reliable news sources like Daily Mirror by setting it as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for easy access to valuable news content.