A recent Aviva survey…
…of 2,004 UK residents highlights diverse attitudes toward home security, revealing that concerns about burglaries vary significantly by age, gender, and season.
While nearly a third of those surveyed worry about home break-ins at least monthly, 10% experience daily anxiety, especially among 25–34-year-olds.
Conversely, 33% never worry, with men and the over 55’s leading this group. Women and younger demographics, particularly 16–24-year-olds and 25–34-year-olds, report higher levels of concern.
Seasonal Worries
Seasonal factors heighten anxiety for many, particularly during Christmas, when 33% feel less secure. Winter months also see increased apprehension, with 22% worrying more than at other times of the year.
Aviva claims data supports these fears, showing theft claims spike as the nights lengthen:
- 2021: Theft claims rose by 50% from September to October and another 2% into November.
- 2022: Claims increased by 18% between September and October, then by 23% from October to November.
- 2023: A 34% rise occurred between September and October, followed by a 10% uptick in November.
Current Home Security Practices
Despite the aforementioned concerns, just under half (49%) leave their homes unoccupied for three or more days, and only 9% monitor properties with cameras. More than a quarter (27%) rely on friends or family to check their homes in their absence. Security practices also vary depending on whether residents are awake, asleep, or away for short periods:
- Locking doors: 54% (awake), 72% (asleep), 70% (away)
- Locking windows: 28% (awake), 49% (asleep), 53% (away)
- Using intruder alarms: 10% (awake), 17% (asleep), 21% (away)
Precautionary Measures
These findings highlight the importance of seasonal vigilance and pro-active security measures to alleviate burglary concerns.
Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to reduce the risk of a break-in. Our article, Keep Your Home Safe This Winter, discusses many security best practices that you can easily adopt to help protect your home.
A recent Aviva survey of 2,004 UK residents highlights diverse attitudes toward home security, revealing that concerns about burglaries vary significantly by age, gender, and season.
While nearly a third of those surveyed worry about home break-ins at least monthly, 10% experience daily anxiety, especially among 25–34-year-olds.
Conversely, 33% never worry, with men and the over 55’s leading this group. Women and younger demographics, particularly 16–24-year-olds and 25–34-year-olds, report higher levels of concern.
Seasonal Worries
Seasonal factors heighten anxiety for many, particularly during Christmas, when 33% feel less secure. Winter months also see increased apprehension, with 22% worrying more than at other times of the year.
Aviva claims data supports these fears, showing theft claims spike as the nights lengthen:
- 2021: Theft claims rose by 50% from September to October and another 2% into November.
- 2022: Claims increased by 18% between September and October, then by 23% from October to November.
- 2023: A 34% rise occurred between September and October, followed by a 10% uptick in November.
Current Home Security Practices
Despite the aforementioned concerns, just under half (49%) leave their homes unoccupied for three or more days, and only 9% monitor properties with cameras. More than a quarter (27%) rely on friends or family to check their homes in their absence. Security practices also vary depending on whether residents are awake, asleep, or away for short periods:
- Locking doors: 54% (awake), 72% (asleep), 70% (away)
- Locking windows: 28% (awake), 49% (asleep), 53% (away)
- Using intruder alarms: 10% (awake), 17% (asleep), 21% (away)
Precautionary Measures
These findings highlight the importance of seasonal vigilance and pro-active security measures to alleviate burglary concerns.
Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to reduce the risk of a break-in. Our article, Keep Your Home Safe This Winter, discusses many security best practices that you can easily adopt to help protect your home.