The top 20 burglary hotspots

Doncaster and Bristol have been named as the UK's thieving hotspots in a study by Moneysupermarket.com, the financial comparison website.

The study highlights the postcodes where the highest proportion of homes have made an insurance claim for a burglary in the past 12 months.

Almost six per cent of homes in areas of Bristol and Doncaster have made a claim. Canvey Island, which lies off the south coast of Essex, comes in a close third place at just over five per cent.

That's bad news, not just for the obvious reason that it is no fun being burgled, but also because home contents insurance is likely to be higher in areas where thieves are most active.

Here are the 20 UK postcodes most likely to claim for theft or burglary on their home insurance

Town or area	Postcode
1. Doncaster	DN7
2. Bristol	BS7
3. Canvey Island, Essex	SS8
4. Nottingham	NG8
5. Birmingham	B15
6. Brentford, West London	TW8
7. West Norwood, South East London	SE27
8. Sheffield	S5
9. Mill Hill, London	NW7
10. Edinburgh	EH14
11. Crouch End, North London	N8
12. Oldham	OL2
13. Hull	HU9
14. Reading	RG2
15. Stockport	SK3
16. Kingston, Surrey	KT2
17. Leeds	LS17
18. City of London	EC1V
19. Gloucester	GL4
20. Streatham, South West London	SW16

Source: Moneysupermarket.com

By David Budworth

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Comments

[PTF]

Crime doesn't pay

[phil]

Spot on with SK3. Lived there for 5 years or so and every year had my shed broken into and stuff taken, and then finally they broke into the house and took everything. Even upended the TV, unbolted it from the stand and took that. Amazing.

[Stuart Budd]

I have lived in Bristol BS7 for 10 years and I have a lane backing onto the back garden and I have never been burgled. Sometimes a few rowdy people coming back from the pub and walking back the to Council estate but never and problems. Perhaps it's my turn next?

[Ian Jones]

Hmmm

Seems like Liverpool is a nice safe place to live. We always knew this perhaps the rest of the country will realise it and stop slagging us off due to ignorance

[Andrew]

One up for Doncaster! (oh god someone please take me away from here)

[Mike]

Ian Jones, Liverpool

Maybe you have nothing to steal?!

JOKE

[Telhassy Teezee]

If you live someplace where your neighbours have names like Ali, Mohammed, and Fatima, you may want to have a good insurance policy.

[Ian]

City of London???? Hardly anyone lives there. Is this really Burglary Dwelling??

[Laura Porter]

Telhassy Teezee - um, I live in an area where my neighbours have names like that (and they are lovely, friendly neighbours) and happiy my area isn't on this list anywhere. Have you ever actually LIVED somewhere ethnically diverse?

In my experience, the feeling of living in a community atmosphere is usually greatest where everyone isn't middle-class, uptight and white.

[David M]

Crouch End? Really? Shocking. It's a lovely area.

[Middle Class Whipping Boy]

University towns to the fore - students are daft and an easy target for burglars.

[Renaud Spencer]

Come on Ian of Liverpool! Only last week they had to close John Lennon Airport for five hours because of a suspicious car in the car park. It had all four wheels on and the radio still inside... Renaud (ex-Huyton)

[Renaud]

By the way, Times, slap your photographer's wrist! No half-intelligent burglar would risk breaking glass only to find the key wasn't in the lock anyway. The door still won't open on the handle. What would he do next, break the door down?

[J Peyton]

1. Liverpool is certainly a burglary hotspot. It hasn't made it onto the list because Scousers have a complex about 'the bizzies' (police) and do not report crime.

2. The comment suggesting that Muslims are more likely to be burglars is vile Daily Mail nonsense.

3. @PTF: Crime does pay. Note the millionaire lifestyles of countless known criminals - including members of the House of Lords.

[Sean]

Odd that everywhere listed is in ENGLAND. Has the Times once again failed to remember that WALES, SCOTLAND and NORTHERN IRELAND are also constituent countries of the UK?

Or are we Celts just better behaved?

[Miriam]

Telhassy Teezee,
If I lived near you, I'd get myself a big dog and a baseball bat...
insurance won't protect me from your kind of ignorance

[Andrew]

Please get your facts straight before publishing - EC1V is outside the City of London.

[Peter]

EC1V is actually part of Islington...

[Danny]

I've often wondered what happened to JK from Jamiroquai. That photo shows he's turned to crime - better that than having him still making records, I say...

[City Gent]

Given this is only based on insurance claims, could it be that burglary isn't necessarily that high, but pikey insurance claims are?

[LUKE]

I noticed that in this comment section a certain "SEAN" has noticed that ALL these places are in England...just which county is Edinburgh in again? I find it hard to recall!

[Graeme]

"If you live someplace where your neighbours have names like Ali, Mohammed, and Fatima, you may want to have a good insurance policy.
Posted by: Telhassy Teezee"

Racism pure and simple - Times, take it down!

[roger mellie]

@Graeme

And portraying the criminal as a white male isn't?

Just look at the crime figures from the Office of National Statisitcs and the minority of the minorities are over represented.

[Graeme]

Roger, stick to being a cartoon character in Viz - your opinions are suitably cartoonish as well. If you bothered to read the detail of the statistics you'd discover that while there is an over-representation of ethnic minority offenders in some areas of crime, burglary is overwhelmingly carried out by white offenders.

That's not the point anyway, it would never occur to your fellow racist to post a comment alluding to living amongst 'whites' in general posing a particular crime threat. It's your type of closet "it's all right we're not really being serious mate" racism which is so much more dangerous than that of the BNP.

[roger mellie]

@Graeme

I forgot people can't hold any opinion unless it 'fits' within the multi-cultral McCarthyism that's peddled by your kin.

And like the anti-communists you're quick to demonise anyone that's culturally biased or holds a different opinion to yourself.

As it happens I don't agree with Telhassy's opinion, but I detest idiots like you that only want to censor their views.

[mark]

this will get worse...this country needs a severe shake, for it is turning feral. mark my words middle class people, you are no longer safe.

[Cary Portway]

I think people's interpretations of the statistics are much more interesting than the statistics themselves. It makes me wonder what the reality is. How many of these are false claims? And how many genuine burglaries go unreported? I imagine the analysis would be different if we were given a more accurate representation of the facts. But that's not really what it's about, is it?

[Claire]

Lies, damned lies and statistics. This data is skewed as it measures areas WHO HAVE HOME INSURANCE. Suggest many the dirt poor areas don't. They may also not bother making police reports - unless there is a result why bother?

I know online reporting is overstretched and reporters have a Friday night to go to too, but rehashing Moneysupermarket's pr - largely a tool to sell insurance/financial products - (as I assume this is what this report is) is poor. Their PR will be happy your advertising - and insurance sales reps in the areas mentioned.

[Scott]

I love the fact that the City of London is no.18 - although most people would say that that is where the biggest robberies take place!!

[Jamesy]

Broken into in Kennington three times, Streatham twice. Eight years in Liverpool and - nothing. So I'm not surprised it didn't make it onto the list along with all those 'nice' places.

[Jim Nolan]

Surely Liverpool FCs 'Footballers Row' tops them all?

[Del]

Burglary hotspots or fraud hotspots?

Claims for "TV dropped down stairs while being moved" have gone up 350% in the last year......

[Gareth]

Im from donny and burgalary is ridiculous.

[Cally]

@JPeyton. I know you're just an ignorant tabloid reading moron, but did you actually read the article? It has nothing to do with the 'bizzies', as you so elequently put it, and all to do with insurance claims.

Your outdated, stereotypical views on Liverpool are no longer relevant, backed up by this new research. Try leaving your parents home and broadening your horizons.

[Dave]

I had to laugh, I put Stockport SK3 into Google maps & the pointer was bang on my old house on Petersburg Road. The problem wasn't SK3, it was the worst council estate in the borough being a short walk away. Coincidence?

[Jackie]

Im sooooo happy that Liverpool isnt on the list. In 30yrs there I never had anything stolen, moved to Derby had my motorbike stolen, In Tonbridge my car and in the lovely peaceful island of Anglesey have had a friends powerboat stolen from my garden and no end of other things. Sadly im sure the bigots who already have a poor view of Liverpool will continue with their unjustified views.

[JBK]

During the recent snowfall, we had one of the snowmen we built robbed from outside our house in West Norwood (honestly, stolen, not melted or 'hurried on his way').

It didn't come as a suprise either, we had removed the hat and scarf incase they were liberated, I'll never see that carrot or two bits of coal again though.

[Phil]

Seems they missed Westminster and Redditch off this list.

[Paul Saeed]

J Peyton - quote: "The comment suggesting that Muslims are more likely to be burglars is vile Daily Mail nonsense"

Actually, the comment suggesting that Liverpool is "certainly a burglary hotspot" is vile J Peyton nonsense. What a hypocrite for berating one form of lazy prejudice then following it up with another.

There are Scouse Muslims you know J Peyton? In fact the UKs first Mosque was in Liverpool. My father was a Muslim and my mother was born a Catholic, lived in Liverpool all my life and am knocking on fifty, and have never been burgled.

Come on J Peyton tell us which great city you come from, let me guess, does it begin with an "M" and is it just down the East Lancs road? Does the phrase "comment is free, facts are sacred" ring any bells?

Stick to the facts and less of the kneejerk prejudice, remember, a bigot, is a bigot, no matter what the bigotry.

[pete m]

Hull Hu9 is Mr. Prescott's constituency. Well done sir, that after 40 years of your hard work East Hull is still a no-ambition, rudderless hotbed of benefit-sponsored crime. How are the book sales, after-dinner speeches & tv appearances going, btw?.

[NIGel carron]

Sean,
Edinburgh At number 10 was in Scotland last time I looked, And unless these resuts weighted by numbers in postcodes theyre useless..

[KeithW]

Problem with statistics like this is that nowhere does it show from which town or city the criminal comes from and has travelled to, too enabe him or her to carry out the offence.
North Wales crime is committed to a large degree by travelling criminals fro outside the border e.g Liverpool and Manchester whoch now includes parts of once Cheshire.

[shutterbug]

Some years ago, before she died, my wife's great aunt lived in London, but came up to Liverpool as often as she was able, to stay with us. She belonged to an old folks social centre, and one day, while preparing for her much looked forward to visit, she mentioned the fact to other members of the centre. The reaction was as expected. 'Oh, you're not going to that terrible place, are you?' To which aunt Jessica replied, 'Just as a matter of interest, have you ever been there?' 'Heavens, no.' said the other person. 'Don't knock it until you've tried it' said aunt Jess, 'I've lived down in this hell hole for fifty years, been mugged several times, my house burgled too many times to count, and I'm scared to go out. But in Liverpool, I can go shopping, feel safe in my great niece's house, can take her dog for a walk late in the evening and still feel secure'. And by the way, the dog was a little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, not some great hairy beastie with three foot long teeth.
As she said, if you've not been here, you can't comment about the place, let alone the stupid, vacant comments from people who don't know amy better. . Liverpool is one of the safest cities in the country. I lived in London in the sixties, and the best thing I ever did was to come home to Liverpool.

[Julian Williams]

I live in Bristol, in BS6/7/8, which covers Cotham, Clifton and Redland and I have to say the crime rate re burglaries is alarming.

Although not unexpected, the police told me that they drive in from as far away as Cardiff and Swindon (as well as our own local professional burglars) as it is rich pickings, lots of old houses with sash windows and high disposable income working couples (Drs, Professors etc) always out in the daytime.

In the 4 years I have been:

home burgled once
Car burgled 3 times

The guy in the flat below be:

home burgled 3 times
Car burgled 5 times!

There is a group of people in this country whose "job" is to steal, they live in nice houses in respectable areas with good cars, kids go to nice schools, you might think they are a solicitor or an accountant,... crime pays quite well actually, don’t know why I bothered with that PhD…

and

Doncaster must be really bad to beat Bristol!!

[American (the land of the great!)]

To bad the citizens in England can't protect themselves, if they were allowed to have guns for self defense the crime rate would drop, to bad only the criminals have guns in there messed up land.
If a few of the bad guys got plinked off, it would make a few bad guys think twice before going down the wrong path.

[Lawrence]

Too bad the last contributor can't spell

[Lawrence]

Too bad the last contributor can't spell.

[I.Givup]

I am surprised that the Penrith area,in Cumbria, does not appear on that list. Our local guardians of the peace regulary let it be known in the local press,that single officers are responsible, at night,for an area covering maybe 200 square miles,which contains 6 or 7 villages.They seem to believe that the "tea-leaf" fraternity, from a very wide area should be kept well informed.

[Vee Kettering]

Only just seen this. Reading the wider comment, these statistics relate only to insurance claims, not number of burglaries or even number of burglaries reported to police. The poorest areas are the most likely not to have home contents insurance, areas where there is low home ownership and people claiming benefits and suffering the worse inequalities. In fact those least likely to comment on here. So take it as read that people in Liverpool are very likely to have suffered more or even most burglaries but have no means of becoming a statistic in this instance as they are outside the scope of gathering the information. Why do contributors defend areas for the sake of it? Be realistic and wake up to the fact that just because you hale from somewhere and want to believe it is better than the reality. Read the whole of the written piece not just select what you want to see.

[David]

There is no such crime as Burglary in Scotland, but don't let that get in the way of a good story.

[Nick]

Time we turn around the 1997 gun laws and let the people have hand guns again to protect themselves and their homes. Why is it Police and criminal have guns and we the public are up shit creek and are the ones mugged and robbed!

[Andy]

Lived in Liverpool all my 32 years, Have businesses that span Liverpool and Manchester, whilst Liverpool has its rough edges and a problem with organised crime and youth disorder.
Car crime and Burglary and Muggings just arent prevalent here, yes we have problems but we just dont suffer with the burglarys muggings and car crime that the rest of the country do.
My pensioner Mother in law still walks her dog at 10PM on her council estate, and I drive hot hatches and have never had it stolen or scratched! bet that wouldnt happen in London/Brum or Manchester.

[john]

Having lived all my life in Liverpool I can confirm that burglary is not a big problem in Liverpool.It is certainly true that it was a big thing in the early 80's but this is more than a quarter of a century ago and things have changed. What I find amazing is that Liverpool is not mentioned in this list but the amount of people who deceive themselves with comments like "it must be better here than Liverpool". I also notice that 30% of all the postcodes mentioned are in London but not one comment mentions the appalling crime rate that Londoners have to endure. There is a saying " Denial is not a river in Egypt" is seems appropriate to a lot of commentators here.

[Andyj]

The Liverpool of old was a terrible place. Its not so now. They have really made themselves proud in these latter years.

These burglary zones seem to (overall) reflect multicultural zones:
Imagine my shock.

[Robert]

Quite clearly racism and intelligence don’t exactly go hand in hand but I guess that’s the point really. A quick check shows that Doncaster, Bristol and Canvey Island are some of the least diverse places in the country.

Even the top London postcodes aren’t exactly multicultural hotspots.

[Manchester Resident]

Ha ha. All the dole-money scousers saying taht liverpool is not crime capital. Calm down calm down, lads