For any homeowner the thought of being targeted by thieves is a frightening, but unfortunately prevalent possibility. This is particularly true for those of us living in the UK, which has been widely reported as having the highest crime rates for both burglary and car crime in all of Europe. While this might not surprise you, it's even more shocking to learn that a house or car in England and Wales is broken into or vandalised every seven seconds. That adds up to a shocking 11,620 criminal incidents every day, according to the Office for National Statistics. 

The figures, which run up to March 2017, show that the week is the most common times for burglaries (as opposed to the weekend), and the evening unsurprisingly seeing the highest number of incidents. The statistics also showed that the East Midlands was the worst affected area, with Wales and Yorkshire and Humberside coming in second and third respectively. Urban areas in general were far more affected by car and home crime than rural areas, with the former seeing 50% more incidents over 12 months. 

Interestingly, the statistics also show that terraced houses were the worst affected, seeing 70% more incidents than detached houses. The majority of break-ins also come through the front of the house, rather than the back. This may be explained by the predominance of terraced housing in urban areas, and the relative ease of gaining access to the front of a property, compared to the back (which may back on to another home or require gaining access through a garden). 

Renters, the Unemployed and Single Parent Homes Suffer More

Unfortunately, the statistics show that those who tend to be less wealthy are suffering the most. Those who rent, rather than own their home are considerably more likely to suffer a break-in or car crime, with statistics showing 218 criminal incidents being reported for every 1,000 rented households, compared to 159 incidents for every 1,000 owned homes. For those who are unemployed or in single-parent homes, the figures are even worse. Households with unemployed members see 359 incidents for every 1,000 households, while single-parent homes see 287 incidents per 1,000 homes. This is likely down to the areas in which may low-income families are forced to live in, particularly within large cities and urban areas. 

Property Crime a Major Problem in the UK

While the statistics show a drop in property-related crime over the past 10 years, they're still incredibly high throughout the United Kingdom. In fact, the Crime Survey for England and Wales reports that property-related criminal activity accounts for an astonishing 72% of all police-recorded incidents. 

Protecting Your Home and Vehicle

With such a high number of incidents involving home and car crime, it's important that we're able to take steps to minimise the risks of becoming a victim. Luckily, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of experiencing this type of crime. For the home, it's suggested that you:

• Keep all valuable items out of sight of windows wherever possible
• Fit suitable locks to all doors and windows, and ensure they're used when out of the house or in the evenings
• Ensure garden gates are closed, and suitable locks are fitted on gates into rear gardens
• Utilise lighting timers when you're away from the house for long periods
• Maintain your property effectively, as statistics show that criminals are more likely to target unkempt homes
• Ensure you have a working alarm fitted in the house

When it comes to cars, there are a number of steps you can take to minimise your vehicle being stolen or broken into: 

• Ensure doors and windows are always closed and locked
• Keep valuable items out of sight 
• Ensure you car has a working alarm
• Fit an immobiliser and steering lock to the vehicle
• Park off-road wherever possible, ideally in a locked garage
• If you cannot park away from the road or on a driveway, try to park in a well-lit area, ideally close to public CCTV

Many of these steps will also likely benefit your insurance renewal quote, particularly if they're disclosed when getting a quote. Similarly, keeping your property and your vehicle well-maintained is likely to discourage theives, although this may seem counter-intuitive. Research shows that thieves are likely to target homes and cars that are unkempt, likely as they believe them to be less secure. With homes, keep your front and rear garden cut and clear, ensure exteriors are cleaned and windows are not particularly dirty. With cars, ensure they're cleaned regularly, brake-pads are properly maintained, wheels are not under-inflated and the exterior of the car is not damaged or dirty. While they may be simple steps, they could well make a difference in how likely you are to be targeted by criminals.