BURGLARS are more likely to target ordinary, three-bedroomed semi-detached houses than any other type of property, research has found.

Surprisingly, semi-detached properties situated in towns with neighbours either side are most at risk from the threat of thieves, not a grand mansion or country pile, according to MORE TH>N Insurance.

Electronics, cash and jewellery are the top items most likely to find their way into swag bags.

Three quarters of people don’t have a burglar alarm fitted, while one in ten had no extra safety measures whatsoever.

The most likely home to be burgled in the UK:

 

• A semi-detached, bricked house

• Occupied by a family with young children

• The house has three bedrooms, one reception room and one bathroom

• Situated in an urban location

• Nearest unattached neighbours 11 metres away

• A garden is at the back of the house, around 160 square metres and surrounded by fencing

• There is no garage at the property but there is one car sitting on the drive

• Worth approximately £180,000

 

Matt Poll, of MORE TH>N Insurance, said: “The research shows that there’s a worrying pattern to the type of homes targeted by burglars in the UK, with families most at risk.

“Add to this the poor level of security measures put in place by most homeowners and it’s a potential recipe for disaster, especially around Christmas – where we see an increase in claims related to break-ins.”

Looking at what is stolen from homes, it appears thieves have expensive tastes, with electronics (87%), cash (54%) and jewellery (53%) being the top items most likely to be stolen.

Perhaps most alarming, 14% have had personal items such as passports and bank statements taken, leaving them exposed to fraudsters.

Due to these high value objects, on average, items totalling £2,114 are taken from homes in a single burglary.