Where are you most likely to be burgled?

Updated
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this photo illustrates a...



The burglary capital of the UK has been revealed - and it's not where you might think.

Research shows that Newcastle residents run the biggest risk of a break-in, followed by those in Brighton and Leeds. London, surprisingly, is only seventh on the list.

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The data comes from home security company Canary, which says that only 78% of incidents are reported to the police - perhaps because victims believe there's little point.

Fewer than one in five burglaries results in a conviction, and only one in eight ever see any of their stolen possessions again.

Burglary rates in your local area can make a big difference to insurance premiums. People in districts with high rates can expect to pay as much as 20% more than average. Those that live in the areas with the lowest rates, such as Dundee or Dumfries and Galloway, can expect to pay as much as a third less than average.

And this next couple of weeks are two of the riskiest, thanks to the end of daylight saving time. Figures from Co-operative Insurance show a huge spike in home claims when the clocks change, with theft claims going up by 38% in the five months after the clocks go back.

Bonfire Night is the peak, according to insurer Aviva, with 21% more burglaries than an average day.
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So how can you protect yourself?

James Hillon, director of products at the Co-operative Insurance, says people should be especially careful at this time of year.

"Whilst in a lot of cases it is simply a case of bad luck, there are things that home owners can do to deter thieves such as ensuring lights are left on when no one is at home and installing CCTV cameras, or at least dummy ones, to make burglars think twice," he says.

He also recommends not posting your location on social media sites, and never leaving valuables or car keys on display. And don't forget to actually set your burglar alarm, and lock doors and windows and any sheds or outbuildings.

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Britain's Most Burgled Cities (Canary)
1. Newcastle
2. Brighton
3. Leeds
4. Manchester
5. Edinburgh
6. Liverpool
7. London
8. Nottingham
9. Southampton
10. Glasgow

UK's Top Burglary Hotspots Revealed
UK's Top Burglary Hotspots Revealed


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