Spike in burglaries as price of gold soars

Frank Rumpenhorst/DPA

The rising price of gold and growing prominence of cash-for-gold services is fueling a spike in household burglaries and personal theft.

Households made 5,000 more burglary claims in 2011 than during the previous 12 months, according to figures from the Association of British Insurers, with jewellery the main target.