MoneySuperMarket reveals UK burglary hotspots by postcode

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The central Birmingham postcode of B5 is Britain’s top burglary claims hotspot, according to MoneySuperMarket’s annual burglary claims tool.

The price comparison website analysed 3.1million home insurance claims over the last two years to identify the locations of the highest and lowest rate of claims for home contents theft within a five-year period. The research reveals a 2.5% increase in claims at an average of 16.04 claims per 1,000 in 2019 – up from 15.65 in 2018.

B5 – which covers Digbeth, Highgate and Lee Bank – tops the rankings with a rate of 57.14 home contents theft claims per 1,000 quotes.

Metropolitan areas dominate the rankings for areas with the highest amount of claims, with 18 postcodes out of the top 20 being located in Britain’s three largest cities. Nine are located in Greater London, four in Greater Birmingham and four in Greater Manchester, while one is in Bristol.

One suburban and one rural area feature in the Top 20. The Surrey commuter belt postcode of GU23 – which covers Send, Ripley, Ockham and Wisley – has a home contents theft claims rate of 46.80 per 1,000 claims. The Cotswolds postcode of WR12- which covers Broadway – has a claims rate of 47.97 per 1,000.

Highest Amount of Burglary Claims
Rank Postal District Postcode location Rate (per 1000) *
1 B5 Digbeth, Highgate, Lee Bank 57.14
2 B94 Olton, Solihull 52.63
3 IG5 Clayhall 51.64
4 N21 Winchmore Hill, Bush Hill, Grange Park 50.13
5 M21 Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Firswood 49.22
6 BS7 Bishopston, Horfield, Filton 49.13
7 SK4 Stockport, Four Heatons 49.12
8 B96 Redditch 49.06
9 WR12 Broadway 47.97
10 IG9 Buckhurst Hill 47.83
11 SK8 Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green 47.62
12 IG4 Redbridge 47.12
13 B15 Edgbaston, Lee Bank 47.08
14 E18 Woodford, South Woodford 47.04
15 M20 Didsbury, Withington 47.02
16 RM14 Upminster, Cranham, North Ockendon, Bulphan 46.80
17 GU23 Send, Ripley, Ockham, Wisley 46.80
18 NW11 Golders Green, Hampstead Garden Suburb 46.79
19 SE21 Dulwich, Dulwich Village, West Dulwich, Tulse Hill, Sydenham Hill 46.12
20 IG7 Chigwell 45.89

At the other end of the rankings, the Staffordshire town of Leek (ST13) has the fewest burglary claims, with 0.69 claims per 1,000 quotes. The Scottish postcodes of G84 (Clynder, Cove, Garelochhead, Kilcreggan, Rhy, Rosneath, Shandon) and KY4 (Cowdenbeath) follow, with claims rates of 0.87 and 1.09 per 1,000 quotes respectively.

The research also reveals the top five postcodes with the highest average claims, with Birmingham and Greater London postcodes again featuring prominently:

  1. B20 – Birchfield, Handsworth Wood, Perry Barr – £8,000
  2. IG7 – Chigwell – £6,000
  3. WD25 – Garston, Aldenham, Leavesden, Letchmore Heath – £5,000
  4. TW13 – Feltham, Hanworth – £4,750
  5. TW14 – Hatton – £4,600

Burglaries remain more common in colder, darker months, with claim numbers 12% higher in autumn than in summer. Houses also remain the preferred target of burglars and are 70% more likely to be burgled than flats.

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