Nearly half do not lock up when at home

Nearly half (47%) of all adults do not lock their front doors when they are at home, according to new Ageas figures.

The data, which was collected in partnership with the Neighbourhood Watch Trust and released to tie in with new Home Office National Crime statistics, also shows that 13% of adults only lock their front door at bedtime.

The Home Office statistics show that domestic burglaries are up 14%.

It follows recent Ageas research showing that passers-by including would-be burglars can spot goods worth an average of £1,223 by looking through the windows of the average UK home.

Ageas Insurance Managing Director Mark Cliff said: ‘It’s often wrongly assumed that many household burglaries are committed while homes are empty. But canny burglars know that many people assume that by being at home, they themselves are a deterrent and so they take fewer precautions. But an unlocked front door or window can be an open invitation to a burglar while the occupier is distracted by spending time in the garden.

“With so few people routinely securing their home while they are there it’s no wonder that so many thefts are committed without a forced entry. It’s not about turning your home into a fortress but simply getting into the habit of locking doors and windows, regardless of the period of time the house or room is unattended.”