Liverpool at a glance
The city of Liverpool sits within the Merseyside Police district which reported 14,193 instances of crime between December 2015 and November 2016 across the L1, L2 & L3 postcodes. Of these incidents, 476 were attributed to burglaries (approximately 3%). In relation to the top 10 most common crimes in Liverpool listed below, burglary only appears at the bottom of the list.
- Anti-Social Behaviour – 25%
- Violence and Sexual Offences – 19%
- Shoplifting – 12%
- Other Theft – 12%
- Theft from Person – 7%
- Criminal Damage & Arson – 5%
- Public Order – 4%
- Vehicle Crime – 4%
- Drugs – 4%
- Burglary – 3%
Whilst burglary is clearly not the most common instance of crime within Liverpool city centre, it is important to consider how this relates to other locations. When looking at the rate of burglaries over a 12 month period in Liverpool against 15 cities with similar crime profiles, it was most similar to Lincoln.
However, within the Merseyside District, including Knowsley, Sefton, Wirral and St Helens, it reported the highest instances of burglary.
- Norwich – 6.07
- Hastings – 6.26
- Stoke on Trent – 7.04
- Newcastle upon Tyne – 7.72
- Nottingham – 8.00
- Birmingham – 8.05
- Wolverhampton – 8.37
- Salford – 8.56
- Leicester – 9.06
- Lincoln – 9.64
- Liverpool – 9.94
- Blackpool – 11.72
- Middlesbrough – 12.04
- Manchester – 13.39
- Kingston upon Hull – 14.92
Crime by neighbourhood
Looking specifically at incidents from November 2016, the majority of the burglaries in the city of Liverpool were reported in the Georgian Quarter, Ropewalks and around Liverpool John Moore University. Statistically speaking, burglary is one of the crimes most likely to impact university students which may be an indication as to why these neighbourhoods are the most affected.
How to keep your home safe
Doors and windows are often the main point of entry for any burglar so they should be the first priority when securing your property. Aside from always keeping them locked when you leave the house, there are a few simple changes that can vastly improve your home security.
– Ensure that all windows have key-operated locks (unless used as a fire escape)
– Use laminated glass on any easily accessible windows
– All doors should be fitted with a deadlock
– Ensure your letterbox has an internal cover plate and never leave house keys near the door
– Avoid tall shrubs or fences near the main entry points that a burglar can use to conceal themselves.
Having a system of motion detected or timed lights often serves as a deterrent; however, it is important to make sure that they are placed in realistic locations such as a bedroom as opposed to a hallway. The aim is not to turn your home into a fortified prison but rather to make it less inviting to ‘crimes of opportunity’.
The data presented in this article was based on findings reported at police.uk. More detailed home security tips can be found at merseyside.police.uk.