Burglary
Burglary of Domestic Dwellings: Findings from the British Crime Survey
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Home Office Statistical Bulletin 4/99 by Tracey Budd
Domestic burglary is relatively common in England and Wales compared with other industrialised countries. The International Crime Victimisation Survey has shown that the risk of burglary is higher in England and Wales than in the ten other countries included in the survey (Mayhew and White, 1997). To address this problem, the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme includes a three-year initiative to reduce burglary victimisation. The initiative will target high-risk communities and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of burglary reduction projects.
This report presents the results from the 1996 and 1998 sweeps of the British Crime Survey (BCS) in relation to burglary against domestic dwellings.
Domestic burglary comprises the following:
Burglary with entry – incidents in which the offender entered the dwelling as a trespasser with the intention of committing theft, rape, grievous bodily harm or unlawful damage. To be classified as burglary with entry the offender must have entered the property but need not have carried out their intention.
Attempted burglary – incidents in which there is clear evidence that the offender tried to enter the dwelling as a trespasser but failed. Burglary against a domestic dwelling (burglary hereafter) therefore does not necessarily entail the theft, or attempted theft, of property, or involve forced entry (it may be through an open window or involve the use of false pretences).
This report examines the total number of burglaries in 1997 and the trend in burglary since the first BCS, which measured crime in 1981
MAIN POINTS
Extent of burglary
The 1998 British Crime Survey estimated 1.6million burglaries against domestic dwellings in England and Wales in 1997. Just under a half of these were attempts in which the offenders failed to gain entry to the home.
The number of burglaries increased by 137% between 1981 and 1993. Between 1993 and 1997 burglary fell by 8%.
Risks of burglary
5.6% of households in England and Wales were burgled in 1997.
The following factors increase the risk of burglary: lack of security; low levels of occupancy; living in a detached house; living in inner city areas; and living in a household in which there is a single adult and children, the head of household is young, or the occupants are Asian.
Households were more than twice as likely to be burgled in 1997 if they had been burgled in the previous four years.
One-fifth of households burgled in 1997 experienced more than one incident in the year. 13% were burgled twice and 7% three or more times.
Nature of burglary
In most burglaries with entry, force was used to gain entry, but in a fifth (22%) the offender entered via an open window or unlocked door.
In a quarter (25%) of burglaries someone was at home and aware of what was happening. In a tenth (11%) of burglaries violent or threatening behaviour was used. Victims were emotionally affected in 87% of all burglaries.
Insurance
In 1998 eight in ten (82%) households had an insurance policy which covered the contents of the home against theft. Economically disadvantaged groups were far less likely to have such insurance.
Security
Ownership of security devices increased substantially between 1992 and 1998. In 1998 almost a half (48%) of all households had security lights and a quarter (24%) had burglar alarms.
The evidence from the BCS suggests security devices are very effective in reducing the risk of burglary victimisation.
Getting a copy
“Burglary of Domestic Dwellings: Findings From The British Crime Survey” is available in PDF format here
Last update: Wednesday, August 27, 2008