Northern areas worst hit by Christmas gift thieves!
- TBA
- Dec 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 13
Christmas is a very important holiday in the UK, and giving gifts is a key part of this tradition. Many people are willing to spend a significant amount of money to buy gifts, hoping to bring joy to their family and friends.
But here’s a reminder: make sure to keep an eye on your gifts!
Reports indicate that UK thieves are already ‘back to work’ and the number of burglaries has soared. Every year around this time, thieves target people’s Christmas presents. According to police data, jewellery, smartphones, Apple Watches, and other items are among the most commonly stolen goods, with some worth over £100,000.
So, how can we prevent these losses?
Which Christmas gifts are most popular with thieves?
During the holiday season, burglary cases spike. Particularly at Christmas, when homes are full of gifts—some are meant for others, and some are received by the household. Thieves take advantage of this, often breaking in when people are out at gatherings.
A report from UK police shows that thieves steal almost any gift, including bottles of alcohol or even a single piece of candy.
Recently, media reported that a family’s entire Christmas haul was stolen, with all the presents under the tree taken, including candy from the table.
Based on police data, here are the most commonly stolen items and their value:
Stolen Items Value
Jewellery £103,234
Cash £99,570
Electronics £24,608
Sports Watches £13,475
Decorations £12,255
Hand Tools £3,000
Photography Equipment £2,597
Women’s Clothing £1,050
Alcohol £865
Medals/Currency Collectibles £600
Men’s Clothing £500
Shoes £120
According to police, in the reported burglaries, jewellery and watches account for 32% of cases. These items are hard to trace and easy to hide, making them prime targets for criminals.
In England and Wales, one in three burglary reports involves stolen jewellery or watches. Next in line are electronics, including computers, tablets, and cameras, which account for 23% of stolen items, many of which are worth over £1,000. Police note that laptops and tablets are particularly easy to carry off.
High-risk areas for burglaries in the UK
The following regions in the UK have the highest burglary rates:
Middlesbrough: 22 burglaries per 1,000 households | Middlesbrough, in North Yorkshire, has the highest burglary rate in England and Wales. The risk of burglary in this northern town is 11 times higher than in other areas.
Manchester: 20 burglaries per 1,000 households | Manchester ranks second in terms of burglary rates, with 20 burglaries per 1,000 households last year. Despite its reputation for being safer than London, Manchester has a higher burglary rate than any other district in London.
Doncaster: 18 burglaries per 1,000 households | Doncaster ranks among the top areas for burglaries, with 18 burglaries per 1,000 households.
In London, the following districts are particularly prone to burglaries:
Southwark: 14 burglaries per 1,000 households
Barnet: 13 burglaries per 1,000 households
Hackney: 13 burglaries per 1,000 households
Haringey: 13 burglaries per 1,000 households
Kensington and Chelsea: 13 burglaries per 1,000 households
Have you insured your home?
If you live in a high-risk burglary area or have valuable gifts at home, it’s worth checking if you can claim under your home contents insurance if you’re a victim of a burglary.
Over 80% of home insurance policies automatically increase coverage during Christmas. Although they may not explicitly mention ‘Christmas coverage’ you might see terms like ‘seasonal increase’ or ‘holiday coverage’ in your policy, which applies to this period.
Insurers often increase your coverage by a fixed amount (typically between £1,000 and £10,000) or by a certain percentage of your total insurance.
For example, AXA Insurance automatically increases its clients’ home contents coverage by £7,500 during Christmas, covering the 30 days before and after Christmas. Other insurers may have shorter coverage periods, such as 14 days before and after Christmas.
Tax considerations
In the UK, the Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is applied to most general insurance premiums, similar to VAT. The IPT has two rates: 12% for standard policies like home, car, or pet insurance, and 20% for policies covering travel or the sale of home appliances and cars.
If your annual premium is £300, with a 12% IPT, you would pay £336. With a 20% rate, the cost would be £360. IPT applies to most insurance policies, but some, like life insurance or commercial aircraft insurance, are exempt.
To lower your premiums, you can consider increasing your voluntary excess (but note that this will increase your costs if you need to make a claim), adding extra security measures to your property, and avoiding posting pictures of expensive gifts on social media, which could attract thieves.