New research from Gocompare.com has revealed that more than half (51 per cent) of UK householders worry about their home being broken into and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) admit to keeping some kind of weapon or heavy object close at hand in case of intruders.
Comparison website Gocompare.com carried out the research as part of a wider study looking at attitudes towards home and personal security and the take up of insurance to protect homes and belongings. However, researchers were shocked by the large percentage of UK householders experiencing the effects of crime at first hand, and the high levels of anxiety Brits felt about their personal safety and that of their property.
The survey revealed that:
- 51 per cent of UK householders worry about their home being broken into
- 17 per cent have been burgled
- 61 per cent keep their doors locked all day even if they’re at home
- 52 per cent would confront an intruder with a weapon
- 23 per cent keep a weapon or heavy object close at hand at home
- 47 per cent don’t answer the door after dark
- 38 per cent don’t go out alone after dark
- 22 per cent have experienced verbal abuse
- 13 per cent have been physically assaulted
- 91 per cent feel householders should be entitled to defend their homes with lethal force
14 per cent of UK householders and 25 per cent of respondents living in London indicated that they didn’t believe they lived in a ‘safe’ area.
10 per cent of respondents said that they kept a baseball or cricket bat to hand in case of an intruder, whilst nine per cent kept a knife or ornamental/replica sword. 14 per cent had a hammer or other heavy object at hand to fend off a trespasser, and three per cent said they kept a firearm such as a rifle, handgun or shotgun. More than half (52 per cent) said they would confront an intruder with a weapon.
Of the five regions surveyed, Londoners had experienced the highest levels of crime with 20 per cent having been burgled, 12 per cent pick-pocketed and 10 per cent having been mugged or had their bag snatched. 18 per cent of Londoners said they had been physically assaulted and 29 per cent had suffered verbal abuse.
Many Brits stay firmly behind locked doors at night with nearly half (47 per cent) not answering the door after dark and 38 per cent not venturing out alone at night. However, nine per cent of respondents said they had at some time had items stolen from their home by a friend.
Mark Greening, head of home insurance at Gocompare.com said:
“We were shocked by some of the results of this survey. Crime is a major concern for many UK householders with some even suggesting that they’re prepared to defend themselves and their homes with weapons against intruders. Rather than putting themselves in harm’s way, when it comes to home security prevention is much better than cure. Householders can take a range of measures to make their homes less attractive to intruders, and home insurance can help you to replace your possessions if you are targeted by burglars. It’s really not worth putting yourself or your family at risk when you have home insurance to help you pick up the pieces.”
Tips to make your home less attractive to burglars…
- Make your home as unattractive to a burglar as possible by fitting outside security lighting and securing your doors and windows. If you can afford it, consider installing a burglar alarm. Burglars are more likely to go for easy targets.
- If possible protect your boundaries with walls, fencing or dense hedging and have gates at access points.
- Try to make it look like the house is occupied even when it isn’t. Keep a light on in the evening if you’re out or even better use a timed light to go off and on at intervals to give the impression of activity within. When you’re on holiday ask a neighbour to clear the post away from the door and remember to cancel things like milk and newspaper deliveries.
- Keep valuables like laptops, expensive phones, cameras and car keys out of view from windows and close your curtains at night. Leaving valuables on show may tempt a burglar to ‘have a go’.
- Keep outbuildings secure and keep things like bicycles, lawnmowers and power tools safely locked away.
