Every year hundreds of thousands of burglaries are reported across the UK and criminals are set to take advantage with families leaving their homes behind this Easter break
Burglars will use any opportunity to snatch valuables from hard-working Brits and they will no doubt make the most of families leaving their homes over the Easter break.
CrimeRate.co.uk, which tracks crime trends across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, hundreds of thousands of burglaries are reported every year. In 2023, police forces in England and Wales alone received 246,580 burglary reports, up from 250,662 in 2022.
Garage door specialist Garolla warned Brits to secure their belongings inside their garages. On average UK homeowners store an estimated £9,326 of valuables inside their garages.
“While many homeowners focus on securing their front doors and windows, they often overlook the importance of garage door security,” Alastair Mayne, chief operating officer at Garolla, commented. “In addition to housing valuable assets (including cars, bicycles, tools, and other possessions), your garage door serves as an entry point to your home, making it a common target for burglars.”
The 10 most dangerous councils and counties for burglary in 2023, when adjusted for population, were as follows:
- Tyne and Wear (burglary crime rate of 4.6 per 1,000 “daytime” people)
- West Yorkshire (burglary crime rate of 6.73)
- Bristol (burglary crime rate of 5.19)
- London (burglary crime rate of 6.26)
- Durham (burglary crime rate of 5.65)
- South Yorkshire (burglary crime rate of 7.75)
- West Midlands (burglary crime rate of 6.95)
- Merseyside (burglary crime rate of 3.92)
- South Glamorgan (burglary crime rate of 3.89)
- Lancashire (burglary crime rate of 4.46)
The firm said the 10 regions with the most valuable belongings stored in their garages were:
- Liverpool – estimated £13,690 per garage
- Leeds – estimated £12,347 per garage
- Bristol – estimated £12,135 per garage
- London – estimated £11,135 per garage
- Edinburgh – estimated £10,796 per garage
- Glasgow – estimated £10,410 per garage
- Nottingham – estimated £7,813 per garage
- Birmingham – estimated £7,756 per garage
- Southampton – estimated £7,752 per garage
- Manchester – estimated £7,734 per garage
“Investing in garage door security offers a multitude of benefits for homeowners, including unauthorised access prevention, vehicle protection, and potential home insurance savings,” Maybe added. “A well-secured garage door acts as a barrier against burglars, safeguarding your home and valuable possessions from unauthorised entry, and is a crucial safeguard against theft and vandalism, offering peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your vehicles.
“However, not all garage doors are made equal. Unless properly reinforced, older garage doors with an ‘up and over’ mechanism can be forced open, making these garages more vulnerable against intruders and the contents susceptible to burglary. Garolla’s electric roller garage doors are made from double-skinned aluminium and insulated with high-density polyurethane for added strength, as well as secure guide rails, auto locks (which ensure the door cannot be lifted manually), and anti-clone remote control technology. Our SafeGuard Plus system also features ‘KeeLoq’ – a rolling code technology to prevent remote control fob cloning by criminals”.
Garolla shared several tips that could further enhance your garage security over the Easter break and beyond.
1. Keep valuables out of sight: Organise your garage effectively, ensuring that valuable items are not left in plain sight and are stored away properly
2. Secure from the outside: Make it a habit to close and lock your garage door after every use, even when you are at home
3. Regular garage door maintenance: Regularly inspect your garage door for signs of wear and tear, such as loose screws or damaged tracks
4. Upgrade your garage door: Invest in a high-quality garage door system
