Safer Street

Don't ignore the risks

Homes invaded, personal possessions stolen, buildings damaged, the emotional effects of a burglary can last for years.

Government figures show that overall crime is down and domestic burglary has dropped by 4%.*

But that doesn't mean we should ignore the risks - most burglaries are carried out by opportunistic thieves just seeking out that open window.

And given the current economic climate things may not stay as secure as they've been - it's a well know fact that crime goes up when finances go down.

So it's no surprise that recent research by Norwich Union shows that over a third of us feel more at risk of burglary because of the credit crunch.**

But there are seasonal risks too. Both police and insurance figures show that house break-ins go up as the nights draw in. Darker evenings give the perfect cover for thieves trying to work those rusty padlocks. And the fear of crime also rises. Nearly 40% of people become more concerned about being burgled when the clocks go back.

Safer Street

With all this in mind Norwich Union has launched the Safer Street project to show the average homeowner some easy and inexpensive steps they can take to help reduce their risk.

Working in partnership with Norfolk Police we have taken a typical row of Victorian terraces in Norwich and given them a simple security makeover.

The measures range from the basics - door and window locks - to the more innovative - prickly plants and strategically placed lighting.

Of course no home can ever be burglar-proof, personal responsibility, communities working together and good neighbour relations all play a part.

So have a look at what we have done and see you if too could benefit from our learnings in the Safer Street project.

* Home Office crime statistics 2007-2008 England & Wales
** Research conducted with 2,592 adults online between 22nd and 29th August 2008. The survey was carried out by Redshift Ltd.