Home Office figures reveal that Middlesbrough has the highest residential burglary rate in England, with 14 break-ins per 1,000 households in 2025, despite a national 11% decline in burglaries. The data shows 154,000 home break-ins and attempted break-ins occurred last year, down from 173,000 in 2024 and 192,500 in 2022.
Burglary Rates by Area
Bradford recorded the second-highest rate at 13 burglaries per 1,000 households, followed by Westminster (13), Kingston upon Hull (12), Leeds (12), Hackney (12), Burnley (12), Camden (12), Southwark (12), and Birmingham (12). These areas contrast sharply with affluent rural communities like North Norfolk, Breckland, and Eden in Cumbria, which each reported only two burglaries per 1,000 households.
Birmingham recorded the highest total number of residential burglaries at 4,994, with Leeds close behind at 4,203. However, per-capita rates highlight the disproportionate impact on deprived urban areas. Middlesbrough, which has higher average deprivation than any other English local authority except Blackpool, saw 863 burglaries despite a 12% drop from the previous year.
Charge Rates and Policing
Nationally, only 5% of residential burglaries resulted in a charge in 2025, with 7% of cases still under investigation. Charge rates vary widely: South Wales police achieved the highest charge rate at 12%, while Hertfordshire recorded the lowest at 2%. According to the Home Office, improved home security and enhanced police techniques to catch serial offenders have contributed to the overall decline in burglaries.
A residential burglary is defined as entering an inhabited building without permission with intent to steal, including sheds and garages. Crimes recorded include aggravated burglary, where a criminal is armed, as well as distraction and attempted burglaries.
Why Urban Areas Are More Vulnerable
Analysis by the Office for National Statistics previously showed that most burglaries concentrate in urban areas, a trend unchanged in the latest figures. Affluent rural areas benefit from geographic isolation and tight-knit communities, often with Neighbourhood Watch schemes. Higher-density urban areas offer more anonymity for opportunistic burglars.
Home Security Recommendations
Police.uk recommends several measures to prevent burglary: use lower fences at the front of the house to provide clear views and deny cover for intruders; install taller fencing at the rear to prevent easy access; and add trellis, thorny plants, or anti-climb toppings like plastic spikes to deter climbing.
Despite falling burglary rates, police forces stress that home security should remain a priority regardless of postcode. The data underscores the persistent risk in left-behind urban communities, where deprivation and burglary rates remain closely linked.
