The latest analysis of crime data from the Office for National Statistics has identified West Yorkshire as the burglary hotspot in England and Wales, with nearly one out of 94 homes being targeted by thieves. In 2025, West Yorkshire reported 10.6 residential burglaries per 1,000 households. Following closely behind were Cleveland with 10.4 incidents per 1,000 households and South Yorkshire with 10.1.

Although the Metropolitan Police in Greater London recorded the highest number of burglaries at 32,610, its rate of incidents per 1,000 households placed it in fourth position at 9.5. West Midlands rounded out the top five with 9.1 burglaries per 1,000 households. These findings were analyzed by SJL Insurance Services.

Nationally, there were 154,161 residential burglaries reported by police across England and Wales in the year up to December 2025, marking a 12% decrease from the previous year. However, the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates the actual total to be around 327,000, capturing unreported crimes.

Craig Morgan, an insurance expert at SJL, emphasized the importance of understanding the risk of burglary in specific areas, noting that in West Yorkshire, Cleveland, and South Yorkshire, approximately one in 95 to 99 homes experienced break-ins in the past year, highlighting a significant concern from an insurance standpoint.

Burglars tend to target homes during the early hours of the morning when streets are quiet and residents are less likely to notice suspicious activity. It is advised to also secure your home during the day, especially when you are away. Matthew Harwood, a home insurance expert at Confused.com, has outlined seven essential checks to perform before leaving your house to enhance security.