Leeds and Bradford homeowners most at risk of burglary

LONDON, January 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Becoming the victim of a burglary is a prospect that terrifies many people in the UK and it seems the risk is greatest if you are living in Leeds.

According to a new 'planning the perfect burglary' infographic published by SECOM, the West Yorkshire city is home to the highest ratio of home thefts in the country.

Indeed, those of you residing in the LS13 postcode region should be aware that you are the most likely to be burgled of any Britons.

With a burglary taking place every 1.23 seconds somewhere in the country, it is well worth thinking about this possibility and taking adequate steps to minimise the risk.

And it is not only people living in Leeds who should be concerned, as Bradford finished second on the list of burglary hotspots, while Eccles in Manchester, North Finchley in London and Romford rounded off the top five.

On the other hand, homes in the SA9 postcode area of Swansea, SA62 in Pembrokeshire and LA14 in Cumbria were named as the least likely to have to make an insurance claim as a result of a burglary.

Now is a particularly good time to invest in solutions that will go some way to minimising the risk of a home becoming a burglary target during the winter months. The infographic shows home break-ins are 1.5 times more likely to occur during the cold and dark months of the year rather than in the summer.

Interestingly, 20 per cent of all burglaries take place on a Friday, so it is also worth being extra vigilant on this day.

Perhaps the best way to combat the threat posed by burglars is to invest in a brand new, hi-tech home security alarm. This can be linked to the Alarm Receiving Centre at SECOM, meaning help is at hand within minutes of any incident being reported.

Failing to invest in home security can be a dangerous policy, as six per cent of buildings with no measures taken were struck by thieves in 2012.

About SECOM

SECOM Plc is a world class company that supplies customised security solutions to homes, businesses and public sector organisations throughout the UK. It is a global organisation which operates at the local level and is committed to providing state of the art security solutions to all of its customers. SECOM's strength lies in its reliability and its commitment to customer service, and as a National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Gold Member, its security systems meet all requirements demanded by the emergency services and the insurance industry.

The SECOM Group, established in the 1960's, employs over 48,000 people in nearly 1,500 locations worldwide, with operations in twelve countries, assets exceeding £8 billion and an annual turnover of £5 billion from nearly two million customers. Through electronic security, technological innovation and exemplary service, it aims to provide reliable, high quality and cost effective security solutions coupled with a rapid 24 hour response service, enabling commercial, public sector and domestic customers throughout the UK to protect their assets

Press Contacts
On behalf of:
Nicole Wells
SECOM plc    
0808-163-3897
nwells@secom.plc.uk
http://www.secom.plc.uk