18,540 burglaries predicted across the UK this December

Christmas burglaries will cost the UK £7.8M this year

According to our study, this Christmas there could be 18,540 burglaries during December, costing the UK £7.8M in lost Christmas presents. London is predicted to face the highest number of Christmas presents at risk of being stolen - potentially costing the city as much as £1.7M. It is predicted that 5,209 London homes will be burgled, a rate equivalent to 168 break-ins every day throughout December.

Following London is the West Midlands and West Yorkshire, with significantly lower but proportionally high numbers of Christmas presents at risk of burglary - totaling £516k and £413k respectively. After London, residents in the West Midlands are set to spend the second-most on Christmas presents at £767M - so it’s crucial that Brits outside of London take note of ways to burglary proof homes too.

To predict the cities most at risk of Christmas burglaries, we analysed locational burglary incidence data against the predicted Christmas spend per household this December. You can find the top 10 cities below:

Table one. The predicted most financially impacted UK locations due to Christmas burglaries this year.
*Data in Scotland was not available

Five tips to help prevent being burgled this Christmas

1. Check your doors, windows and locks for weak spots

According to ONS data, doors, locks and windows are the top three ways burglars enter homes. It’s therefore crucial to make sure that these entry points don’t have any weak spots. According to property expert Thomas Goodman, “many people believe that a burglar would never enter through the front door. Seasoned burglars know exactly where to search for the spare key you've "hidden." 

When checking your entry points for weak spots, ensure you’re keeping your doors' strike plates as securely fastened as possible (the metal plate affixed to where your door locks). You can also consider purchasing protective covers for your locks.

2. Do not advertise your Christmas gifts on social media

A big mistake you might unknowingly be making is posting your gifts on social media for burglars to target - especially if your account is open to the public. 

3. Dispose of Christmas wrapping

When it comes to Christmas wrapping, make sure to get rid of any boxes as soon as possible. According to Goodman, “don't leave boxes out, especially packaging for pricey electrical products, as this will alert robbers that you have valuables on your premises”.

4. Install CCTV, motion sensors or visible deterrents

From automatic security lights to visible alarm systems, there are many home security features that are inexpensive and effective for protecting your home against burglars. Goodman recommends that you “purchase a motion sensor floodlight or some outdoor Christmas lights to deter burglars from entering your home. Motion sensor lighting is especially useful, as they turn on automatically when movement is detected, which will scare off any potential intruders.”

5. Review your current home and contents insurance

When it comes to ensuring that you’re protected against burglary, a vital step is to make sure you have contents insurance. Chris King, Head of Home Insurance at comparethemarket.com adds; “protecting our homes shouldn’t just be thought of during the festive season. If you’re purchasing and storing valuable gifts ahead of Christmas then checking the terms and conditions of your home insurance policy is the best way to know what you are covered for. Some insurers automatically take into consideration the extra risk of having more valuables at home during the run-up to Christmas into their pricing, but not all.”