Burglary hotspots revealed

Burglary is a worry for anyone who owns properties for sale, as it is for those living in rental homes, with insurance claims and the feeling of someone having invaded your privacy making the whole episode frightening and alarming. However, according to a new report, some places are more susceptible to burglaries than others in the UK.

MoneySupermarket has released a list of the top 20 postcodes in terms of insurance claims for break-ins and burglaries, and, unsurprisingly, two of the country's biggest cities feature heavily throughout.

London features five times in the top 20 list, with the area of Stoke Newington proving to be the worst area to live in in terms of being potentially burgled in the whole country, recording 33.6 reported burglaries per 1,000 enquiries.

Leeds, in West Yorkshire also features heavily on the list, with five areas in the northern city featuring high on the list. Bramley is the worst area in the city for burglary rates, with 30 burglaries per 1,000 enquiries.

Other areas that saw numerous mentions on the list include Bradford, which has two areas in the top 20.

Julie Fisher, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Home is where the heart is, and there is no denying that a burglary in your home is an emotional and frightening experience. However, being in a higher risk area doesn't necessarily mean where you live is bad or rife with crime - many thieves will target more affluent areas purely for the rewards on offer.

"No matter where you live there will always be an element of risk to the safety of your possessions so it is vital to have adequate home insurance in place."

Recently, a police force in Tidworth has been patrolling at night in order to deter potential burglars, and questioning anyone in the area who looks suspicious.