With Burglaries on The Decline, Are We Safer In Our Homes Than Ever Before?

In 2004, The Economist magazine proclaimed that the days of the English burglary were in decline. As electrical items grow ever affordable, the burglars of old have grown lazy. Gone are days of the 80s Del Boy skulking around with a swag bag of VHS tapes.

For many, this marked decline feeds the belief that home cover is just a luxury for the extra-vigilant. While the drop in reported burglaries is something to celebrate, it is unlikely that this crime is on the way out. Assault is an uncommon occurrence with burglary; however, the unskilled opportunists remain a niggling presence.

It's true, modern burglars may not be too tempted to lug away a 15 stone flat-screen, but does that really make our homes safe from theft? Sadly, common burglary is like a pair of flared denim jeans, interest wanes, but neither truly goes out of fashion.

The items of five-finger discount choice now include credit cards, mobile phones, iPods and cheques. Without securing adequate home cover for your property, you run a risk you may come to regret. The economic downturn helped to generate a desire for quick cash with pawnbrokers and gold dealers popping up on every corner. This easy-money ethos only serves to increase the risk of burglary, potentially placing your property at risk.

In May 1960, a sapphire and ruby necklace was swiped from the jewellery box of Hollywood legend Sophia Loren. The burglar sped away in a Jaguar, like a character in a trashy crime novel, and Loren was left explaining to police that the necklace was not insured.

While most of us don't have a fistful of precious gems lying in the dresser drawer, the story is a stark reminder of the potential loss you can be exposed to all because of trying to save on our insurance quotes. The decline in burglary figures over the last decade can be somewhat deceptive. In larger UK cities, the rates have indeed fallen, however, in more rural settings, the risk remains relatively high.

In 2009, The Telegraph reported a 16.2 per cent rise in burglaries in areas such as Dorset, Surrey and Hampshire. And so the need for home cover has never been more important than for those dwelling far away from the city centre.

Insurance shopping may not be the most exciting task, but finding the right cover doesn’t have to be a dull number-crunching hunt. Using nifty techniques such as price comparison websites can help reduce the burden of finding cheap cover and really can help you save a few bob. By taking less than one minute to input your details, you could save yourself hours of cold calling and avoid unnecessary fumbling with papers and calculators.

Even the most lacklustre burglars will generally investigate a neighbourhood before making a beeline for their target house. As any police offer will tell you, it is nearly always the weakest and most poorly secured houses that are subject to attacks. There is no need to deck your home out in whistles, bells and laser beams to keep it safe, but simple measures such as installing a visible alarm or sensor lighting can help deter even the most persistent burglars.

The Thames Valley Police preach a simple mantra, ‘look, lock, light’; an amazingly simple set of actions that could drastically improve home safety. Taking minimal precautions such as moving valuable possessions out of view, double checking the locks and leaving the light on to make your home look occupied, all serve to protect your property against potential intruders.

However, for ultimate peace of mind, purchasing home cover constitutes a solid investment to protect the belongings that are most important to you.