Burglaries soar in November and especially on Fridays, says new YouGov research

A poll of 4,000 UK adults found that the number of theft claims increased by more than a third in the last two months of the year, with November being when most burglaries are carried out.

The data also revealed that burglars seemed to choose Fridays to commit crimes more often than other days of the week.

Home theft hotspots

A total of 41 per cent of Brits have been the victim of burglary, according to the research.

People living in London were the most likely to be victims of break-ins, followed by Carlisle and Manchester.

The top 20 home theft hotspots in the UK are:

London Carlisle Manchester Salisbury Chelmsford Slough Bolton Twickenham Halifax Dartford Birmingham Watford Oldham Wigan Bradford Wolverhampton Lancaster Croydon Cambridge NorthamptonMethods of breaking and entering

When it comes to how burglars are breaking and entering, a third broke down a door, almost a quarter smashed a window and a tenth gained access via a door or window which was accidentally left open, the research suggested.

Colin Butler, Head of Insurance at Co-op Insurance said, “Unfortunately, year on year, our claims data shows that darker nights lead to more burglaries.

“As the nights draw in, we’re urging people to be vigilant when it comes to their personal safety, as well as the safety of their home.”

Tips to keep your home safe from burglars this winterLeave a light on when out or invest in a light timer Install exterior security lights at the front and back of the property If possible, invest in a CCTV system Don’t post locations on social media sites Ensure doors and windows are locked Set burglar alarms Ensure outbuildings/sheds are secured Don’t leave valuables on display Never leave car keys within easy reach of a letterbox Don’t leave ladders outside your home