Do burglars come back to the same house?

November 19 2025

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Yes, it’s more common than you’d think for burglars to return to a house they’ve already been to. More than one in six (17%) burglary victims have experienced three or more burglaries, 65% of which were in the same house*. There’s a possibility that the first break-in was a ‘scope out’ too, so it's always a good idea to be extra vigilant if someone does enter your home.

There are a few different reasons for this, and it’s important to do everything in your power to protect yourself and those around you. If you want to upgrade your home security setup before burglars can strike again, have a chat with our friendly team.

Why do burglars come back?

To make your home the safest it can be after a break-in, it’s important to understand the reasons why burglars return to the same houses. Some of the most common ones are:

• They know the layout of the home. Often the first break-in can just be to scope out the home, layout, and any valuables inside.
• They know how to enter, either via the same route as before or a different one they spotted while first inside.
• An understanding of what's left. If there are more valuables than a burglar had originally anticipated, they might go back for things they couldn’t get out.
• They’re generally better prepared. Understanding the home can help intruders be quicker or more successful on their return.
• If the burglary is planned, the offenders will often know your schedule or when you’re out of the house, which is when they’ll strike.
• If you haven’t already repaired the entry points, they’ll be easily accessible.
• Sometimes it just comes down to a confidence boost. If the burglar got away with it the first time, they’ll assume they can again.

Am I at risk?

While there’s no rulebook on whether your house is going to be burgled, there are things that can increase risk and those you can look out for. Most break ins are pre-meditated, where offenders look for things like a lack of cameras or pets, but there are also opportunists who might just happen to try your door on the day you forget to lock it.

Potential reasons you could be at a higher risk:

• No visible deterrents like cameras, dogs, or fencing.
• Old or poor locking systems. Check if you’re at risk of lock snapping.
• The house looks vacant, with a build-up of rubbish, post, or no lights on.
• Valuables are visible through windows.
• You’re in a recently targeted or high-crime area. If you’d like to find out if this is the case, you can use our Crime in My Area tool.
• Cars are missing from the driveaway for an extended period.

What to do after you’ve been broken into

We’d always recommend having an adequate home security system, regardless of whether you’ve been broken into before. It’s better to prevent a break-in than react to one:

1. Repair any damage quickly. You don’t want the burglars coming back through any damaged windows or doors.
2. Invest in security cameras. Obvious cameras are a great deterrent, and if thieves act anyway, they can help the police find and prosecute them.
3. Hide any valuables, even if it seems obvious. Sometimes, valuables left in sight are the extra push a burglar needs to return to your home.
4. Change your schedule. Thieves often act when you’re out of the house, so make sure to switch up your routine, whether that means changing the days you work from home, or walking the dog at a different time each day so no one can track your schedule easily.

*confused.com survey