With the cost of living continually rising and more financial strain placed on homes around the country, experts have warned that the impact may well increase the likelihood of crime rates rising around the UK. Burglary is a risk year-round, but when there is financial hardship thrown into the mix, the figures unfortunately rise further.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average cost of a home burglary in the UK is over £3,000, not to mention the emotional cost to the victims. This is to be expected when you consider that in 58% of cases, someone is home when the property is broken into. This concerning statistic should serve as a warning to homeowners that simply being in the property isn’t enough of a deterrent to someone who is determined enough to break in.
To stay protected, it’s important to be aware of the latest UK crime trends and what you need to do to keep your home, your family and your belongings safe. These are the most common 2023 crime trends we can expect to see more of in the coming year and how property owners can protect themselves from such attacks.
Common crime trends
Tool theft
In the past year, tool theft has been on the rise and now figures are at an all-time high. Studies show that 78% of tradespeople have been the victim of tool theft, with just 1% of those questions fully recovering all of their kit. Power tools and DIY equipment are incredibly expensive, ranging from the hundreds for basic tools to over £5,000 for professional-grade items, so moving through 2023, it’s important that you keep your belongings protected.
The first piece of advice is to remove tools from your vehicle overnight so that thieves aren’t tempted to break in looking for items to steal. Storing them in a locked toolbox indoors, or in a secure shed or garage will keep them protected and ensure you’re not an easy target. It’s also worth upgrading the locks on your outbuildings so they’re stronger and harder to break.
A weatherproof padlock will add an extra level of protection to your valuables, while adding motion-sensor lights to the outside of your home will alert you to anyone moving around in the garden at night and will deter criminals. Smart locks are also a great idea for sheds and garages, removing the risk of someone getting hold of a key and adding that extra layer of protection to your property.
Vehicle theft
Any driver will know the importance of keeping their vehicle secure, but unfortunately the rates of vehicle theft are just as high as ever in 2023. And it’s no surprise, given how much money you can fetch from selling a vehicle, whether it’s a basic car to a high-end van. The statistics around vehicle theft suggest that by 2030, 20,000 vans will be stolen annually, and that figure is even higher when we factor in cars and motorbikes too. Vehicle security is of paramount importance this year and beyond to keep one of your most lucrative assets protected.
Investing in high quality locks for your car or van is a must to level up your vehicle security, making sure that the locks you use meet industry standards for the highest protection against a criminal attack. For guidance on certified lock standards applicable across domestic, commercial, and vehicle storage contexts, our overview of police lock recommendations covers the rating schemes and certification marks recognised by UK forces when advising on high-value asset protection. But it’s also worth adding security cameras near to where you store your vehicle at night so you can keep any eye on it from afar. A smart security camera will enable remote monitoring so if you’re not at home, you still have clear visibility.
Cyber attacks on IoT devices
The global cyber security landscape has evolved in the past few years and since the pandemic, criminals have taken advantage of misaligned networks and remote work environments. Smart home and IoT devices are common in many homes now but they’re also increasingly becoming a target for cybercriminals. In fact, they can sometimes be the most vulnerable entry points since so many homeowners don’t think to secure them. The UK currently has the highest number of cyber crime victims, with figures up 40% since 2020, putting millions of homes at risk.
A standard cyber attack on an IoT device moves from the hacker to the device but in 2023, there’s an increase in cyber attacks moving from smart devices like voice-activated devices, EVs and wearables. The connectivity and data shared among these types of devices makes them a popular target for criminals, especially when there are weak security measures in place which make it so much easier for them to break in. Even compromised QR codes are now a target, giving hackers access to geolocation data and redirecting people to malicious websites.
Homeowners need to make sure that they’re choosing strong passwords, disconnect IoT devices when they’re not in use and keep firmware up to date. This will help to protect smart devices from attacks and keep your data secure. Homeowners should also avoid using Universal Plug and Play because this can also make devices vulnerable to cyber attacks, making it easier to network devices and discover them beyond the local network.
Breaking and entering through windows
Windows are a great place to reduce the risk of your home being broken into, as unfortunately they’re a common place for criminals to look for easy access to your home. While it may seem like a basic form of burglary, crime trends in 2023 indicate that opportunists are going back to basics and gaining access by either breaking into a home via windows or entering through windows which have been left open unwittingly. This may be alarming for homeowners, but it’s luckily an area that can be secured quickly and without the need for a lot of financial investment.
One of the simplest and most effective solutions is, of course, to keep your windows locked when they’re not in use and especially if you’re not going to be at home. But updating locks to stronger locks and handles can also be very effective deterring criminals from trying to break in because it’s harder for them to do so.
Combining a 2-star TS007 security handle with a 1-star cylinder lock will give you much more protection on the property and when coupled with window sensors, you can be fully confident that your home is monitored, whether the windows are open or locked. It gives you extra peace of mind and visibility over your home, whether you’re in the property or not.
What are the common risks to a home?
There are common points of entry in a home or garden that thieves often look to as a means of access, such as through the front door or first-floor windows, entering the home via an attached garage or breaking in via the back door. Keeping these areas secure with industry standard locks and smart security equipment will ensure that your home is as protected as possible against these common threats. For a practical room-by-room breakdown on how to burglar-proof your door across its most vulnerable components — from door core material through frame reinforcement and certified lock selection — our dedicated guide walks through each upgrade decision.
Staying aware of the state of your property and making sure doors and windows are locked before you go out, or locked in a vent position only during the night if needed, will help you avoid becoming a victim of criminal activity.
Unfortunately, home burglaries are not only common but those which have been burgled are as much as 51% more likely to suffer the same fate again in the following months. Even if the criminals don’t target your property again, chances are they will target a neighbour in your local area, and vice versa. So, if criminals have been targeting properties near to where you live, it’s a good time to invest in security measures to protect your assets.
Making the most of your home security system
While interest in home security systems is on the rise, many people still aren’t making the most of them. Over half of those with security systems aren’t sure how to operate them and nearly one-third only set the alarms when they go to bed. Furthermore, 63% of burglaries occur in homes without a security system in place.
In addition to smart locks on doors, industry-standard locks on windows and motion-sensor lights on the exterior of your property, it’s also worth investing in a video doorbell for your property. In most cases, these will send you a notification if someone walks past your property, even if they don’t ring the doorbell, and will give you the chance to communicate with them which if they are there under false pretences will usually shock them into leaving as they’ll know they’re being watched and recorded.
Don’t stay silent if you see someone on your property as many criminals will take this as a sign that there’s no-one home and will attempt to break in. Communicating with people when they’re near your home will let them know you’re watching and monitoring the building, wherever you are.
When you invest in a smart home system, heavy-duty locks or sensors, it’s important that they’re used at all times to give you the extra layer of protection your home needs. Working with industry professionals will ensure you have the right products for your needs, and they’ll be able to advise you on how best to use them, so you get the full protection and best value for your money.
Final thoughts
With so many people struggling financially at the moment, due to rising energy costs and general cost of living, experts say it’s to be expected that we will also see a rise in burglaries and cyber attacks from criminals looking to take advantage. But you don’t want to find yourself in a position where the place you should feel the most secure and safe becomes a threat to your safety.
To ensure you’re moving through 2023 safely, it’s worth upgrading your security systems and locks so they’re as hardwearing and secure as they can be. Home security is a worthwhile investment, even in times of financial difficulty, because you don’t want to find yourself having to replace items that have been stolen or repair damage caused by criminal activity. Security systems will keep you protected against these crime trends and give you the peace of mind that your home and your most valuable assets are kept safe.
