Burglary hotspots that increase the cost of home insurance

When accessing your home insurance premiums, insurers will look at the risk involved. This could be anything from living in a flood risk area, an area that is prone to subsidence or and area that has a high crime rate.

It is the latter that the most recent home insurance monitor from Money Supermarket.com has focused on.

According to their data Stoke Newington in London is the area in which a break-in claim is most likely to occur. Further up North, the LS13 area in Leeds is the most 'at risk' area which covers Bramley, Rodley and Swinnow.

With six areas in the top 20 it is London that comes out worst as the highest risk area for burglary. This is reflected in the home insurance premiums residents currently pay. For example in Harrow, only 16 miles from Stoke Newington, residents have the highest premiums in the UK at £241.12.

Julie Fisher, head of home and contents insurance at Money Supermarket.com said Home is where the heart is, and a burglary is an emotional and frightening experience. However, being in a higher risk area doesn't necessarily mean where you live is rife with crime - many thieves will target more affluent areas purely for the rewards on offer."

Take a look at the infographic below to see if you live in a burglary hotspot then read on to see how you can protect your home from thieves.

Beating the burglar

There are a number of ways in which to make your home more secure, installing an alarm system, security lighting and insurer approved locks such as five-lever mortis locks, are just a few ways to protect your property.

Contact your insurer to check which type of locks and alarm system you would need to have the greatest impact on lowering your annual premium.

Get into the habit of not leaving expensive items such as jewellery,laptops and cameras on display and if possible lock them away.

If you are away on holiday, cancel any unnecessary deliveries such as newspapers and milk. A build up of these will advertise your property is empty. Getting a neighbour or a timer to turn the lights on and off will give the impression that someone is at home.

Never leave your keys by the front door as homes have been burgled by the thief hooking the keys through the letterbox.

Also make sure that you are adequately covered for your homes contents especially after a wedding or Christmas. You never know when an opportunistic thief will strike so make sure your cover is always up to date.

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