Police figures reveal areas with highest burglary risk

ONE NOTTINGHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD HAS RECORDED AROUND 14 BREAK-INS FOR EVERY 1,000 RESIDENTS

NEW data has revealed which neighbourhoods in Nottingham are more at risk from burglaries than anywhere else in the county.

According to police neighbourhood crime figures, there were 4,799 burglaries across Nottinghamshire last year – a 2.8 per cent drop from the 935 reported for 2020-21.

There are three types of break-ins – domestic burglary at a home, nondomestic burglary on a business or shop, and aggravated burglary, where an offender goes equipped with a weapon.

The neighbourhood area recording more burglaries than anywhere else was City Centre and Trent Bridge, with 188 reports.

This was followed by the Arboretum, Forest, Trent University in Nottingham, and West Bridgford in Rushcliffe.

Additionally, when compared to the population size, residents in City Centre and Trent Bridge were also more at risk from burglars than any other Nottinghamshire neighbourhood.

In this area there were around 14 burglaries for every 1,000 residents, making it the highest rate in the county.

This was followed by Worksop Cheapside in Bassetlaw, and then West Bridgford, where there are 13 and 11 burglaries per year for every 1,000 residents.

The average rate for 7,000 neighbourhoods across England and Wales has been calculated as around four burglaries per 1,000 people.

Keyworth South, in Rushcliffe, has experienced a 133.3 per cent rise in burglaries, with three taking place in 2020-21 and seven last year.

Meanwhile, West Hucknall in Ashfield has had the biggest drop in burglaries, from 25 in 2020-21 to seven last year, a 72 per cent fall.

Residents in West Hucknall were also the least likely to be broken into last year, with a rate of around one for every 1,000 residents, which is much lower than the national average.

Separate data from the Home Office shows that from July the number of house break-ins usually starts to increase and continues to rise until just after Christmas.

Between April and June last year, there were 42,521 residential burglaries. This rose by 9.1 per cent between July and September, by 15 per cent between October and December, before dropping by 6.8 per cent between January and March.

A similar pattern has been displayed in recent years, and whilst the figures for April to June 2022-23 are not yet available, recent trends suggest numbers are likely to fall again before increasing in July.

Jeffrey Demarco, assistant director at the charity Victim Support, said: “The impact of a burglary goes beyond just the financial losses, although these can be devastating.

“Home should be the place where we feel most safe. A burglary is an invasion of that space and can deeply unsettle people’s sense of security. For some, it could mean the loss of treasured belongings and memories that can never be replaced. Sadly, too many people still fall victim to burglary. Services like Victim Support also offer free practical and emotional support to victims – call the charity’s free 24/7 Supportline on 0808 16 89 111.”

Crime figures show that for all of the burglaries in England and Wales last year, someone was charged in only 5.2 per cent where investigations had been completed. This is down 5.8 per cent from 2020-21, and 6.1 per cent from 2019-2020.

The figures also show that businesses are more likely to see an offender prosecuted than a homeowner victim, as burglars were charged with the crime in 7.6 per cent of investigations into business break-ins, compared to four per cent at residential properties.

However, this could be because businesses are more likely to have CCTV.

Home should be the place where we feel most safe. A burglary is an invasion of that space.

Jeffrey Demarco