Brits turn to neighbours for security

People living in rental homes, as well as those living in their own private accommodation, are increasingly turning to their neighbours to help them keep their home safe, as the once popular Neighbourhood Watch scheme appears to making something of a comeback across the country.

According to home insurance comparison site GoCompare, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who feel that protecting their home through a Neighbourhood Watch scheme is a good way to keep the burglars at bay.

Especially in winter months, burglaries become more common, because of the dark nights, and the ease in which criminals can skulk around gardens, looking for a way to enter a property. This has seen an increase of 38 per cent in the number of Brits looking to protect their UK property by joining these groups.

Of those who are in the schemes, 59 per cent said that they thought their membership was worth it, as they felt less likely to be a victim, needing to make a costly insurance claim for lost items or damage to their property.

Mark Greening, head of home insurance at Gocompare.com says: "It's great to see that both community and security in the home is becoming increasingly important in Britain.

"We would encourage those people who are not members of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme to seriously consider becoming part of an official group. As well as strengthening the community and helping you get to know more people in your local area, active membership could, in some cases, help reduce your home insurance premium. Improving your home's security by pulling together can only be a good thing."

According to police in Portsmouth, home insurance claims for burglaries are on the rise, despite the fact that crime in general is seeing a decrease. The force said that there had been an 11 per cent increase in the number of burglaries in the second half of last year, when compared to the year before.