The latest analysis of crime data has uncovered the region in England and Wales with the highest burglary rates, where nearly one in every 94 homes has fallen victim to theft. According to statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), West Yorkshire reported 10.6 residential burglaries per 1,000 households in 2025. Following closely behind were Cleveland at 10.4 per 1,000 households and South Yorkshire at 10.1.
Although the Metropolitan Police, covering Greater London, recorded the highest number of burglaries at 32,610, its rate of incidents per 1,000 households placed it in fourth position with 9.5 incidents. West Midlands rounded out the top five with 9.1 burglaries per 1,000 households. These findings were analyzed by SJL Insurance Services.
Nationwide, there were 154,161 residential burglaries reported by police across England and Wales in the 12 months leading up to December 2025, representing a 12% decrease from the previous year. However, the Crime Survey for England and Wales suggests the actual total could be around 327,000 when accounting for unreported crimes.
Craig Morgan, an insurance expert at SJL, expressed concern over the high burglary rates in certain areas, such as West Yorkshire, Cleveland, and South Yorkshire, where approximately one in every 95 to 99 homes experienced break-ins last year. This heightened risk underscores the importance of adequate insurance coverage and awareness of policy requirements to mitigate potential losses.
Burglars tend to target homes during the early morning hours when streets are quiet, homes are dark, and residents are less likely to notice suspicious activity. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain home security measures throughout the day, especially when away from home. Matthew Harwood, a home insurance expert at Confused.com, has shared seven essential checks to perform before leaving the house to enhance home safety.
