British Crime Survey shows burglaries and unauthorised takings are on the rise

14.07.2011

The number of burglaries in England and Wales increased over the past year, the British Crime Survey (BCS) revealed today.

The newly released National Statistics showed that domestic burglaries rose 14 per cent compared with last year’s report. In total, one in forty households (2.6 per cent) was a victim of burglary, or attempted burglary, compared to 2.2 per cent outlined in 2009/10.

The statistics are based on interviews from the BCS and crimes recorded by the police in the 2010/11 financial year.

Crimes categorised as ‘other theft’ were also up, driven by a 10 per cent increase in ‘other theft or unauthorised taking’ – offences that include theft of unattended property.

The increased figures highlight the need for the public to take greater steps to prevent IT theft and increase physical security for their laptops, especially in the home. Laptops, tablets and other mobile devices are incredibly desirable and are often prime targets for thieves that steal from domestic dwellings. ICT security expert LapSafe® Products advises that laptops should never be left unattended, and that security cables should be used to physically lock down laptops to prevent laptop theft.

For more information on how to keep laptops secure, and for laptop security tips, click here