Winter’s long nights are a time for worrying about burglary – and householders have cause to do so, an insurer’s suggesting. A survey by Aviva of 2,004 UK residents by Censuswide in September found that nearly two thirds of Brits (65 per cent) worry about being burgled.
In the past two years, almost a third of claims to the insurance company for theft via forcible and violent entry have been during winter. Aviva’s data also shows a spike in claims just after the festive period, in January.
Just under one in ten (9pc) of UK residents are saying they have been burgled in the last year alone, while one in eight respondents (13pc) don’t employ any security measures while they are at home and awake, and not far off half (46pc) don’t lock all the doors that provide access to their property. More than a quarter of those surveyed (28pc) still don’t lock all the doors that provide access to their home, before they go to sleep. One in five (20pc) say they have motion sensor lights in place to try to warn off potential thieves. Even when respondents are away from their property for three days or longer, somestill don’t lock all the doors that provide access to their property. One in five (21pc) will activate a burglar alarm when they’re away from their home for an extended period, and 15pc have working security cameras to check in on the property.
Jonathan Cracknell, underwriting manager at Aviva, says: “With a combination of new presents being gifted and the dark winter nights, December and January can present increased opportunities for thieves to strike. It’s therefore important to practise basic security measures to keep your home secure.
“Get into the habit of checking and locking all doors even when you’re at home and especially when leaving the house, and make sure keys are not within reaching distance of windows or doors. Double or automatically locking doors can also provide an extra layer of security against thieves.
“Alongside these small steps, measures such as security cameras, motion sensor lights and burglar alarms can also help deter thieves or make it trickier for burglars to enter the home without being noticed.
“It’s important to be prepared for any eventuality, so having the correct home insurance can provide extra financial protection and peace of mind, just in case the worst were to happen.”
Visit https://www.aviva.co.uk/insurance/home-products/home-insurance/knowledge-centre/burglary-report/.
