MoneyBurglaryNationally, police recorded 154,161 residential burglaries across England and Wales last year11:34, 29 May 2026The burglary capital of England and Wales has been revealed with almost one in every 94 homes targeted by thieves in this area.‌New analysis of crime data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows West Yorkshire recorded 10.6 residential burglaries per 1,000 households in 2025.‌Cleveland was just behind at 10.4 per 1,000 households, followed by South Yorkshire at 10.1.‌Metropolitan Police covering Greater London recorded the highest number of burglaries at 32,610, though its rate of 9.5 incidents per 1,000 households put it in fourth place.West Midlands completed the top five with 9.1 burglaries for every 1,000 households. The data was analysed by SJL Insurance Services.‌Nationally, police recorded 154,161 residential burglaries across England and Wales in the 12 months to December 2025. This is down 12% on the previous year.The Crime Survey for England and Wales, which captures crimes not reported to police, estimates the true total to be around 327,000.Craig Morgan, Insurance expert at SJL, said: "While the headline national figures show burglary is falling, that comfort disappears very quickly when you look at the data by area.‌"In West Yorkshire, Cleveland and South Yorkshire, roughly one in every 95 to 99 homes was broken into last year, that is not a remote risk, that is a near-certainty over a few years of living in those areas."What concerns us most from an insurance perspective is that people in these hotspots often don't realise their exposure until it's too late."Whether it's underinsured contents, high-value items that aren't properly specified, or simply not knowing what their policy requires them to do, the break-in itself is often just the start of the problem."‌Top 10 burglary hotspots in England and Wales (rate per 1,000 households)West Yorkshire - 10.6Cleveland - 10.4South Yorkshire - 10.1Metropolitan Police (London) - 9.5West Midlands - 9.1Humberside - 8.2Greater Manchester - 7.4Northumbria - 7.0Durham - 6.9Leicestershire 6.57 checks to help keep your home safeBurglars are are most likely to target homes during the early hours of the morning, when streets are quieter, homes are darker and residents are least likely to notice suspicious activity.But it is also important to keep your home safe in the middle of the day, especially if you are out.Article continues belowConfused.com home insurance expert Matthew Harwood has shared seven important checks to make before leaving the house.Lock all doors, windows and side gatesHide cash, jewellery and wallets out of sightLeave lights on timers if you are outAsk someone to collect parcels or postKeep alarms and security cameras activeDouble-check sheds and garagesCheck your home security scoreChoose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌CrimeBurglary