Spike in burglaries across NI: How safe is your area?

Crime data analysed by CompareNI.com has revealed the most dangerous towns and cities in Northern Ireland for burglaries.

Recent policing data showed burglaries were up 15% from June to July 2023 with 49 more burglaries across Northern Ireland than the previous month.

The report also showed a 29% increase from July 2022 to July 2023 with 83 more burglaries committed across Northern Ireland than in the same month last year.*

There were 3,676 burglaries in total across Northern Ireland in the 12 months from 1st August 2022 to 31st July 2023.

With this in mind, CompareNI.com has researched which cities and towns in Northern Ireland have the highest and lowest rates of burglary.**

Belfast had the highest rate of burglary with 1,287 incidents recorded, at a rate of 4.59 burglaries per 1000 people.

Newry had the second highest rate of burglary in towns and cities across Northern Ireland with 3.49 burglaries per 1000 people and a total of 94 burglaries.

Ballymena also had a high rate of burglaries, with 3.25 per 1,000 people, followed by Coleraine with 2.52 burglaries per 1000 people and Derry City with a rate of 2.48 burglaries per 1000 people.

Carrickfergus had the lowest rate of all towns and cities for burglary with a rate of just 0.61 burglaries per 1000 people and only 17 recorded incidents.

Bangor also saw low levels of burglary with a rate of 0.80 burglaries per 1000 people, followed by Larne and Cookstown which both had a rate of 1.21 burglaries per 1000 people.

CompareNI.com’s tips on protecting your home, that don’t rob a bank:

1.Stay alert

The majority of break ins happen during the day so keep an eye for suspicious behaviour and don’t hesitate in asking callers to the house for their ID.

2.Don’t forget the basics

Use padlocks, bolts and window locks to tighten up home security; these measures are relatively inexpensive and will help reduce chances of a break in.

3.Upgrades could add savings

Improve security with an upgrade to BSI approved doors and windows – it could also reduce the cost of your home insurance.

4.Reduce opportunities

Lock gardening tools away in the shed so they can’t be used by opportunist thieves to break in and keep valuables tidied out of sight or hidden with frosted glass or tilted blinds.

5.Join in

Becoming an active member of your local neighbourhood watch scheme can help keep you and your community safer plus help to reduce your home insurance premiums.

Commenting on the figures, Ian Wilson, Managing Director of CompareNI.com said: “Although the overall trend in burglaries is declining, it is worrying to see such a spike across Northern Ireland in the last month so it’s important for homeowners to remain vigilant.

“At a time when the cost-of-living crisis has many families feeling the pinch, additional security equipment may be too expensive. However, there are a number of easy and cost-effective ways to help prevent break-ins. Simple measures such as well-lit driveways, keeping valuables out of sight, window locks and lights on timers are all relatively cheap precautions to help reduce the risk of a break in and will also help keep home insurance costs down.”

CompareNI.com can help people in Northern Ireland find savings on all sorts of everyday household bills and essentials such as home, health and life insurance. 

References:

*https://www.psni.police.uk/system/files/2023-08/1928075112/Police%20Recorded%20Crime%20Bulletin%20Period%20Ending%2031st%20July%202023.pdf 

**https://crimerate.co.uk/antrim/belfast-city