Britain's top 20 burglary hot spots - is your home in one of them?

Dagenham has been named the burglary capital of Britain with one in 20 homes suffering a break-in.

18:23 23 January 2015

A study has confirmed that former industrial town Dagenham is recognized as the burglary capital of Britain. Official figures confirm that one in 20 homes in this town has suffered a break-in with each homeowner losing an average of £5,000.

Last year, there were 55 insurance claims per 1,000 homes and the average payout was £5,117

In second place is nearby Gants Hill with housebreaks at a rate of 54.9 per 1,000 homes. However, the payout rate was a bit higher at an average of £6,581.

Website MoneySuperMarket.com said that the annual Burglary Tracker always include Essex towns taking five places with London, Manchester, and West Yorkshire also ranking high.

The same survey found that homeowners were left terrified after the burglary with one in ten leaving the lights on overnight in a bid to feel safe. Victims also said that it took them around two months to come to terms with what happened.

Mark Castle, chief executive of Victim Support said: “As a charity that supports thousands of burglary victims each year, we know how devastating an impact this crime can have.

“Victims tell us that they suffer far more than material loss when their home is burgled - the psychological impact of this crime can be drastic, long lasting and different for everyone.”

Top 20 burglary claim hotspots in the UK:

1. RM8 Dagenham, Becontree, Becontree Heath Rate: 55.0
2. IG2 Gants Hill, Newbury Park, Aldborough Hatch (Ilford) Rate: 54.9
3. M21 Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Barlow Moor Rate: 51.8
4. DN2 Intake, Wheatley, Wheatley Hills Rate: 48.3
5. E18 Woodford and South Woodford Rate: 48.2
6. RM11 Hornchurch, Emerson Park, Ardleigh Green Rate: 47.1
7. TW11 Teddington, Fulwell (east), Bushy Park Rate: 47.1
8. BD2 Eccleshill, Five Lane Ends, parts of Undercliffe, Fagley, Wrose, Bolton Woods, Poplars Farm, Swain House, Ashbourne Rate: 46.9
9. EN4 Hadley Wood, Cockfosters, East Barnet, New Barnet Rate: 45.5
10. IG3 Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Hainault Rate: 44.0
11. BD18 Saltaire, Shipley, Windhill, Wrose Rate:43.6
12. W4 Chiswick, Gunnersbury, Turnham Green, Acton Green, Bedford Park Rate: 43.0
13. TW5 Heston, North Cranford, West Osterley Rate: 42.9
14. IG8 Woodford Green, Woodford Bridge, Highams Park Rate: 42.5
15. LS28 Bagley, Calverley, Farsley, Pudsey, Stanningley (Pudsey) Rate: 42.2
16. BR5 West Wickham Rate: 42.1
17. UB6 Greenford, Perivale Rate: 41.9
18. UB4 North Hayes, Yeading Rate: 41.6
19. N11 New Southgate, Friern Barnet, Bounds Green, Arnos Grove Rate: 41.1
20. LS15 Austhorpe, Barwick-in-Elmet, Colton, Cross Gates, Halton, Halton Moor, Manston, Pendas Fields, Scholes, Temple Newsam, Whitkirk Rate: 40.8