Burglaries Through Time

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, from October 2021 to September 2022, there were 278,234 burglaries reported in the UK. This is almost an 8% increase from the previous year, which saw 258,171 burglaries.

It is estimated that 63% of burglaries occur at houses without a basic home security system or burglar alarm. Not taking these basic security measures could cost you £3,030 on average, if you were to become a victim of a burglary.

We’ve taken a look at various areas throughout England and Wales to determine where the most burglaries occur and how these figures have changed over time.

Most Least

The Areas with the Most Burglaries in the Past Year

The Areas with the Fewest Burglaries in the Past Year

1

Greater Manchester

Topping the list is Greater Manchester, with a total of 23,401 burglaries being reported. This equates to 821.58 burglaries per 100,000 people.

The city of Manchester had the highest number of burglaries by far, with 6,087 reports. Next was Bolton with 2,593 burglary reports and Salford, with 2,420 burglaries. The towns of Stockport and Wigan also had over 2,000 reported burglaries within the specified time period.

821.58 burglaries per 100,000 people

2

Cleveland

In second place is Cleveland, with 812.92 burglaries being reported per 100,000 people. There were 4,632 burglaries reported in total.

The town of Middlesbrough had the highest number of burglaries in the area, with 1,539 reports. Next was Stockton-on-Tees with 1,208 burglary reports and Redcar & Cleveland, with 1,037 burglaries.

812.92 burglaries per 100,000 people

3

South Yorkshire

The area with the third highest number of burglary reports per 100,000 people is South Yorkshire, with 810.33 reports. There were 11,467 burglaries in total.

Sheffield had the most burglaries in the South Yorkshire area by far, with 4,744 reports being made. Next was Doncaster with 3,152 burglaries and Rotheram with 1,815 offences. The town of Barnsley wasn’t far behind, with residents reporting 1,714 burglaries.

810.33 burglaries per 100,000 people

1

Devon & Cornwall

Topping the list is Devon & Cornwall, with a total of 1,285 burglaries being reported between October 2021 and September 2022. This equates to 199.85 burglaries per 100,000 people.

Cornwall has the highest number of burglaries, with 1,029 reports being made last year. This is followed by Plymouth with 582 burglary offences and South Devon & Dartmoor with 429 burglaries.

199.85 burglaries per 100,000 people

2

Norfolk

In second place is Norfolk, with a total of 2,068 burglaries being reported. This means that there were 226.26 burglaries per 100,000 people.

The city of Norwich has the most burglaries in the Norfolk area, with 556 reports being made in 2022. This is followed by King’s Lynn & West Norfolk with 353 reports and Great Yarmouth with 344 burglary offences.

226.26 burglaries per 100,000 people

3

Dyfed-Powys

The area with the third lowest number of burglary reports is Dyfed-Powys, with 1,285 reports being made in total, equaling 245.84 reports per 100,000 people.

Carmarthenshire currently has the highest number of burglaries, with 472 of them being reported. With just eight offences between them, this is followed by Pembrokeshire with 311 reports and Powys with 303 burglaries.

245.84 burglaries per 100,000 people

The Areas with the Most and the Fewest Burglaries in the Past Year

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences

Population

Per 100,000 people

VIEW ALL

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences

Population

Per 100,000 people

VIEW ALL

Most Least

The Areas with the Highest Increase in Burglaries in the Past Year

The Areas with the Lowest Increase in Burglaries in the Past Year

1

Gloucestershire

The area with the highest increase in burglary reports is Gloucestershire. Between October 2020 and September 2021, there were 2,204 burglary reports. During the same period the following year, there were 3,024 reports, which is an increase of 37.21%.

In 2021, there were 534 burglaries that took place in the city of Gloucester, making it the burglary hotspot of Gloucestershire. By 2022, this had increased to 711, showing a percentage increase of 33.14%.

2,204 2021 total burglary offences

3,024 2022 total burglary offences

37.21% Year-on-year increase

2

Staffordshire

In second place is Staffordshire where, between October 2020 and September 2021, there were 3,021 burglary offences. This is compared to 4,079 offences the following year, which shows an increase of 35.02%.

The city of Stoke-on-Trent had the most burglaries in 2021, with 1,094 reports. This figure increased to 1,441 the following year.

3,021 2021 total burglary offences

4,079 2022 total burglary offences

35.02% Year-on-year increase

3

Leicestershire

In third place is Leicestershire, where there were 3,930 burglary reports made between October 2020 and September 2021. In the same period the following year, reports increased to 5,089. This is an increase of 29.49%.

The city of Leicester had the most burglaries in 2021, with 1,781 reports being made. In 2022, this figure increased to 2,134 reports.

3,930 2021 total burglary offences

5,089 2022 total burglary offences

29.49% Year-on-year increase

1

South Wales

The area with the lowest increase in burglaries over the past year is South Wales. Between October 2020 and September 2021, there were 4,646 burglary reports. During the same period the following year, there were 4,060 reports, which actually shows a decrease of -12.61%.

In 2021, the residents of Cardiff reported 2,106 burglaries. This figure decreased to 1,695 during the following year, showing a percentage change of -19.51%.

4,646 2021 total burglary offences

4,060 2022 total burglary offences

-12.61% Year-on-year increase

2

Merseyside

Next is Merseyside. There were 7,077 burglary reports made between October 2020 and September 2021. This figure then decreased during the same period the following year, to 6,536 reports. This is a decrease of -7.64%.

The city of Liverpool had 3,429 burglaries in 2021. This then decreased to 3,159 burglaries the following year.

7,077 2021 total burglary offences

6,536 2022 total burglary offences

-7.64% Year-on-year increase

3

Derbyshire

In third place is Derbyshire. Between October 2020 and September 2021, residents of Derbyshire reported 3,994 burglaries. During the following year, this decreased to 3,762 reports, showing a decrease of -5.81%.

The city of Derby had 1,403 burglaries reported in 2021, which then decreased to 1,140 reports the following year.

3,994 2021 total burglary offences

3,762 2022 total burglary offences

-5.81% Year-on-year increase

The Areas with the Highest and the Lowest Increase in Burglaries in the Past Year

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences (2021)

Total burglary Offences (2022)

% Change

VIEW ALL

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences (2021)

Total burglary Offences (2022)

% Change

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Biggest Smallest

The Areas with the Biggest Decrease in Burglaries in the Past 20 Years

The Areas with the Smallest decrease in Burglaries in the Past 20 Years

1

Nottinghamshire

The area with the biggest decrease in burglaries over the past 20 years is Nottinghamshire. In 2001/2, there were a huge 30,263 burglary reports made. By 2022, this had decreased to just 5,045 reports. This is a reduction of 83.33%

The city of Nottingham currently holds the title for the most burglaries in Nottinghamshire, with 1,705 reports being made in 2022. Next is South Nottinghamshire with 1,036 offences and Bassetlaw with 733 reports.

30,263 2001/2 total burglary offences

5,045 2022 total burglary offences

-83.33% 20-year decrease

2

North Yorkshire

Next is North Yorkshire, where there were 11,656 burglary reports made in the area in 2001/2, which then fell to 2,128 reports by 2022. This is a decrease of 81.74%./2, there were a huge 30,263 burglary reports made. By 2022, this had decreased to just 5,045 reports. This is a reduction of 83.33%

The residents of one of North Yorkshire’s most populated areas, York, reported 583 burglaries in 2022. Of those 583 total burglaries, 418 were residential and 165 were non-residential.

11,656 2001/2 total burglary offences

2,128 2022 total burglary offences

-81.74% 20-year decrease

3

Humberside

In third place is Humberside where, in 2001/2, local residents made 26,551 burglary reports. In 2022, this had decreased to 5,355 reports, which is a drop of 79.83%.

Kingston-upon-Hull is currently Humberside’s burglary hotspot, with 2,139 reports in 2022. This is followed by East Riding with 1,077 burglaries and North East Lincolnshire with 984 reports.

26,551 2001/2 total burglary offences

5,355 2022 total burglary offences

-79.83% 20-year decrease

1

Dyfed-Powys

The area with the smallest decrease in burglaries in the past 20 years is Dyfed-Powys. In 2001/2, there were 2,122 burglary reports made. By 2022, this had decreased to 1,285 reports. This is a reduction of 39.44%.

As previously mentioned, Carmarthenshire currently has the most burglaries in the Dyfed-Powys area. Of the 472 burglaries in 2022, 349 were residential and 123 were non-residential.

2,122 2001/2 total burglary offences

1,285 2022 total burglary offences

-39.44% 20-year decrease

2

Hampshire

The second-smallest decrease in burglaries was in Hampshire, where there were 17,903 burglary reports made in the area in 2001/2, falling to 8,558 in 2022. This is a decrease of 52.20%.

The residents of Southampton reported 1,790 burglaries in 2022, making the city the burglary hotspot of Hampshire. This was followed by 1,209 reports in New Forest and 1,108 burglary offences in the general area of North Hampshire.

17,903 2001/2 total burglary offences

8,558 2022 total burglary offences

-52.20% 20-year decrease

3

Essex

Following closely behind in third place is Essex. In 2001/2, the residents of Essex made 14,472 burglary reports. In 2022, this had decreased to 6,814 reports, which is equal to a drop of 52.92%.

Chelmsford is currently the burglary hotspot of Essex, with 810 reports being made in 2022. This is followed by 750 burglaries in Colchester and 691 burglary offences in Southend-on-Sea.

14,472 2001/2 total burglary offences

6,814 2022 total burglary offences

-52.92% 20-year decrease

The Areas with the Biggest and Smallest Decrease in Burglaries in the Past 20 Years

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences (2001/2)

Total burglary Offences (2022)

20-year decrease

VIEW ALL

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences (2001/2)

Total burglary Offences (2022)

20-year decrease

VIEW ALL

Highest Lowest

The Areas with the Highest Burglary Rates

The Areas with the Lowest Burglary Rate

1

Greater Manchester

The area with the highest burglary rate is Greater Manchester. With a population of 2,848,300 and 23,401 reported burglaries in 2022, Greater Manchester has a burglary rate of 8.22 per 1,000 people.

As previously mentioned, the city of Manchester currently holds the title for the most burglaries in the Greater Manchester area. Of the total 6,087 burglary offences, 4,477 were residential and 1,610 were non-residential.

8.22 Burglary rate

2

Cleveland

In second place is Cleveland, which has a population of 569,800. There were 4,632 burglaries reported in 2022, giving Cleveland a burglary rate of 8.13 per 1,000 people.

As previously mentioned, the town of Middlesbrough currently has the most burglaries in the Cleveland area. Of the total 1,539 burglary offences, 1,189 were residential and 350 were non-residential.

8.13 Burglary rate

3

South Yorkshire

Following closely behind in third place is South Yorkshire, which has a population of 1,415,100. There were 11,467 burglaries reported in the area last year, giving South Yorkshire a burglary rate of 8.10.

As previously mentioned, the city of Sheffield has the highest number of burglaries in the area. Of the 4,744 total burglaries, 3,617 were residential and 1,127 were non-residential.

8.10 Burglary rate

1

Devon & Cornwall

With a population of 1,785,300 With a population of 1,785,300 and 3,568 burglaries being reported in 2022, Devon & Cornwall has the second lowest burglary rate in the UK at 2.00 per 1,000 people.

As previously mentioned, Cornwall has the highest number of burglaries in the area, with 1,029 reports being made last year. Of this total, 432 were residential and 597 were non-residential.

2.00 Burglary rate

2

Norfolk

IIn second place is Norfolk, which has a population of 914,000. There were 2,068 burglary reports made in 2022, giving Norfolk a burglary rate of 2.26 per 1,000 people.

As previously mentioned, the city of Norwich has the most burglaries in the Norfolk area, with 556 reports being made in 2022. Of this total, 362 were residential and 194 were non-residential.

2.26 Burglary rate

3

Norfolk

In third place is Dyfed-Powys, which has a population of 522,700. There were 1,285 burglaries reported in the area last year, meaning that Dyfed-Powys has a burglary rate of 2.46 per 1,000 people.

Ceredigion had the lowest number of burglaries in 2022, with just 199 being reported. 136 of these were residential burglaries and 63 were non-residential.

2.46 Burglary rate

The Areas with the Highest and the Lowest Burglary Rates

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences

Population

Per 100,000 people

VIEW ALL

Rank

Area

Total burglary offences

Population

Per 100,000 people

VIEW ALL

Methodology

Current burglary data - we used Office for National Statistics to gather the latest data for burglaries across England and Wales. We calculated the crime rate per 100,000 people for each area by dividing the latest number of offences by the area’s population, before multiplying the figure by 100,000. The data was released on 26th January 2023 and is representative of the year ending September 2022. This dataset also allowed us to use data from the previous year (ending September 2021).

Historical burglary data - we used Gov.uk to gather historical data for burglaries across England and Wales. The dataset used is titled ‘Offences recorded by the police in England and Wales by offence and police force area from 1990 to 2001/2’. The data selected by us is representative of the years 2001/2.

Percentage changes - we calculated both the year-on-year and 20-year percentage change for burglaries in each area by subtracting the number of historical offences from the latest number of offences. We then divided this figure by the number of historical offences, before turning it into a percentage.

Crime rate - we calculated the crime rate per 1,000 people for each area by dividing the latest number of offences by the area’s population, before multiplying the figure by 1,000.

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