Burglaries are an unsettling thought. Someone rooting through your home or business premises while you’re away (or even there) makes the spine tingle.
Fortunately, you can protect yourself in many ways by making your property very difficult to access illegally.
On this page, we’ll discuss that and explore how safe Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands really are. The stats we’ve included on this page are based on Office for National Statistics’ latest regional crime figures.
How much do burglaries affect homeowners in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands?
Across the UK, 2022 saw a 3.4% increase in residential burglaries, up to 195,692, from 189,093 in 2021. The emergence from COVID lockdowns and the pressures invoked by the cost-of-living crisis, among other things, could be behind the rise.
The East Midlands also saw an overall rise in home burglaries, but only by 1.1%. Although it could still be argued that this is troubling, it’s less than the national average. As a result, East Midlands residents are statistically at less risk of a home invasion.
Nottinghamshire, though, is sadly a different story. There were 3,561 domestic burglaries in 2022, compared to 3,397. That’s a 4.6% increase. Although, yes, Nottinghamshire is a much smaller ‘sample’, it’s still a notable increase. In general, homes in Nottinghamshire are more likely to be broken into. These figures might either alarm or lull you into a false sense of security.
Our advice is to get sufficient home security measures wherever you live to keep the criminals at bay.
Are commercial burglaries a problem in Nottinghamshire and the East Mids?
Commercial burglaries are a real problem in the UK, with figures rising dramatically in 2022. 81,545 were reported last year (2022), with ‘only’ 69,501 the year before. That 14.8% increase is pretty alarming, although, again, we can perhaps attribute much of it to the lower crime figures during the COVID lockdowns.
So, how do the East Midlands and Nottinghamshire compare? In Nottinghamshire, there’s been a 12.3% increase. That’s below the national average, but it’s still eyebrow-raising.
The East Midlands region has seen a 16.1% year-on-year increase. Not only is that a high figure, but it’s significantly above the national average. As a result, we would conclude that businesses and other commercial property owners are more likely to be affected by burglary in our region.
As we mentioned, you can probably put the sharp increase in commercial burglaries down to our release from lockdown. Premises are now in use again, meaning doors are left open, valuables are left out, and so on. Criminals also wander the streets instead of being confined to their homes, making impulse crime more likely.
No matter where you live in the East Midlands (Nottinghamshire or otherwise), getting a fully-equipped security setup is the best way to put would-be burglars off.
A few quick tips for protecting yourself
Protecting yourself from burglary is crucial whether you’re a homeowner or a business manager. In the end, it comes down to chance, to some extent. However, you can mitigate the risk by making your property complex and ‘high-risk’ for someone to break into.
Here are a few security tips and pieces of hardware we recommend everyone installs:
- Alarm system
- CCTV
- Security lighting
- Anti-snap locks
You should also consider going a step further, especially if you have a high-value home or business.
- Access control systems
- Commercial safe
- Security teams
Finally, follow these tips to reduce the risk as much as possible:
- Never leave your home’s doors or windows open and unattended (even upstairs ones)
- Keep valuables like phones, laptops and jewellery hidden from the windows
- Put up security signs (‘Warning: CCTV’ -type posters)
- Use timers and your neighbours to make your home appear occupied at all times
- Keep car keys well away from the front door
Grays Locksmiths Nottingham can help
These days, the job of a locksmith is much more than crafting and installing locks (although we do still do that, too). Much of our work is now electronic, such as alarm systems, security lighting and CCTV. Grays Locksmiths in Nottingham is an MLA member. Our trusted team of professional locksmiths knows precisely what they’re doing. If you need any help or advice, feel free to get in touch.
We can be reached via the contact form below. If you have an emergency and require a call-out locksmith, please give us a ring (0115 942 2315) instead.