Yorkshire and the Humber has been named the joint worst region in England and Wales for burglaries, according to new research by Go.Compare Home Insurance. The region reported one break-in for every 96 homes last year, matching the rate in London and placing both areas at the top of the national table.
The study examined Home Office crime figures in conjunction with Census data to compare burglary rates nationwide. The findings reveal that Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the most at-risk regions for home break-ins, with over 8,000 reported burglaries in 2024.
South Yorkshire Police recorded the highest burglary rate of any force in England and Wales, with one burglary for every 73 homes. West Yorkshire followed closely with a ratio of 1 in 75, while Humberside had a rate of 1 in 99. All three forces ranked in the national top 10 for burglary rates.
Across the rest of the country, Cleveland Police had the second highest rate overall at 1 in 82 homes, with West Midlands and the Metropolitan Police (Greater London) close behind. Other areas in the top 10 included Greater Manchester, Northumbria, Durham and Lancashire.
On the other end of the scale, North Yorkshire stood out as a safer part of the region. It had one of the lowest burglary rates in England and Wales, with just one break-in per 250 properties. Only seven police force areas had lower ratios, with Cumbria topping the list at just 1 in 335 homes affected.
Nationally, the average rate of residential burglary across England sits at one in 141 homes. In Wales, the rate is lower, at one in 233.
Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, warned that burglary rates can influence how much people pay for insurance.
“If you live in an area with a higher rate of break-ins, it’s especially important to make sure your policy covers the full value of what you own and that your home security is up to date,” he said.
Blackler added that steps such as fitting burglar alarms and maintaining good locks can help reduce risk and potentially lower insurance premiums.
“No matter where you live, shopping around for quotes is one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re getting the right cover for you at a fair price,” he said.
More details about the country’s burglary hotspots can be found on the Go.Compare website.
