As of March 2023, reported burglary crimes across the UK were up by 4% from the previous year. This rise could be due to the Cost of Living Crisis we’re currently facing, forcing people into crime where they see no other option.
In this article, we’re looking at the top 5 ways to make your neighbourhood safe against crime.
But first, let’s take a look at the top items burglars steal from UK homes:
Bicycles:
Bicycles are no1. On our list. In fact, bicycles make up for 36% of all house burglaries in 2021.
Jewellery:
From watches to rings to necklaces and earrings; the jewellery business is worth 3.3 billion a year in the U.K - something burglars know all too well…
Wallets/Cash:
No.3 on our list is wallets and cash - this saves the burglar from having to pawn items in the first place. Maybe another reason to not keep cash in the home?
Laptops/Tablets:
77% of people in the UK own a laptop, meaning they are high in demand.
Mobile Phones:
In 2020, a whopping 325,000 individuals experienced phone theft in the U.K. Again, with the average mobile phone costing £335 in the U.K, you can see why it’s on the list when entering a home.
Becoming friends with your neighbours is one of the main reasons why Hikinjo exists, hence why it’s no.1 on our list! But the benefits of befriending your neighbours goes beyond just the social element. When you’re friends with your neighbours, you’ll be more enticed to keep an eye out for them, just like you are with regular friends. Going on holiday? Need someone to monitor your house whilst you’re away? Just ask Paul and Anne and number 9 if they wouldn’t mind, and guess what? If they ever go away, they can ask you to do the same. Crime prevention in your neighbourhood starts with friendship,
When it comes to making steps to a safe neighbourhood, Neighbourhood Watch schemes are key! Neighbourhood Watch began in the UK in 1982 in Mollington, Cheshire. Back then it was known as Home Watch. Since then it’s grown from strength to strength and now boasts over 2.3 million members across England and Wales. The aim of Neighbourhood Watch is to make neighbours feel safe, and to prevent crime in your local area via volunteers. Activities may include patrolling the streets, checking in on neighbours and reporting any suspicious behaviour in the area. Heck, even the Neighbourhood Watch stickers you see on lampposts can prevent thieves from carrying out their crimes. Why not check on Hikinjo today to see if there are any Neighbourhood Watch schemes already happening in your area?
Naturally, cameras will catch any criminal activity in and around your property, but with the rise in doorbell cameras over the past few years, they’ve been able to catch a lot more! Did you know, 25% of Brits aged between 18-34 now have a doorbell camera attached? So now, you can even talk to your potential burglar! Not only can doorbell cameras pick up what’s happening outside your property, they can also pick up what’s happening on your street. As most burglaries happen between 3pm and 5pm, this is a surefire way to catch any criminal behaviour.
This one goes without saying, as criminals also love the dark! Have you got a streetlamp that’s not working in your street? Contact your local council now to get it fixed. You could also ask your neighbours to light their porches, or even keep on their hallway lights as a deterrent. Will it cost your neighbours more in electricity bills? Yes. Could it save them from being burgled and losing thousands of pounds of goods, not least the psychological damage? Absolutely.
Lastly, but by no means least, if you see anyone behaving suspiciously, such as a person you’ve never seen on your street before pacing up and down and looking into cars and windows, then don’t ignore it; report it to your local police station - you could just save one of your neighbours (or indeed, yourself) from become a victim of a robbery.
With UK burglary on the rise, it’s important to look into how we can safeguard our properties, as the repercussions of a home robbery can have repercussions that go beyond financial loss, including a psychological impact too. We hope you found this list of 5 safety measures in the community helpful.
Why not join a neighbourhood watch scheme on Hikinjo and help protect your street against thefts?
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