The quiet corner of Surrey that’s the No 1 target in Britain for housebreakers

Britain’s most burgled district is in a quiet corner of Surrey where wealthy residents have been blighted by repeated break-ins.

The postcode of GU3, which includes parts of west Guildford, as well as the town of Pirbright and villages such as Fairlands, has overtaken Redbridge in east London as the burglary capital.

In Fairlands, a thriving Neighbourhood Watch scheme has been launched to try and tackle the scourge, and a number of residents have even erected CCTV cameras around their homes in the hope of deterring burglars.

Sheila Willis, a former Surrey Police officer who runs the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, said: “There was a break-in in Fairlands recently where two burglars smashed in the conservatory door … and it seems they may have been monitoring the family to determine when the property is vacant.

“The police were called. The neighbours were very kind and supportive throughout and it’s great to have that community spirit.”

One local burglary victim, who did not want to be named, said: “It was a bit ridiculous.

“We found two footprints in the garden, and they sent some new officers out. They told us it wasn’t TV and they couldn’t do anything.” Martin Evans