46 burglaries on homes every day

BURGLARS in the West Midlands targeted houses 46 times a day last year.

Exclusive analysis of police records shows that there were 13,729 burglaries in the area during the 12 months ending in June 2018. That works out at nearly 46 a day on average.

The total was up from 13,463 during the same period in 2017.

The figure includes 63 aggravated burglaries, which are those committed when a burglar is carrying a firearm, an imitation firearm, or any other weapon or explosive. It also includes 262 distraction burglaries.

Homes with no security measures in place are five times more likely to be burgled than those with simple security measures.

Good window locks and strong deadlocks can make a big difference.

The police also advise locking doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you’re just out in the garden.

People are also advised to ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property, or leave radios or lights on a timer to make a property appear occupied.