UK households have been issued a chilling warning as the heatwave tempts many to leave windows open, creating easy opportunities for burglars. New official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that around one in five home burglaries in England and Wales involve a window as the point of entry.
Window Break-Ins: The Surprising Truth
The ONS data shows three main patterns when burglars use windows: breaking or cutting the glass accounts for 9% of all home burglaries, forcing the window lock or catch accounts for 7%, and pushing open an unlocked or easily opened window accounts for 5%. While 77% of burglaries still involve a door, the window remains a significant weak spot.
Antony Heath, a window and home safety expert at Glevum Windows, said: “Most people think of their front door first when it comes to security, but the ONS data shows nearly one in five burglaries still comes through a window. A window that is technically locked but fitted with a weak or ageing catch can be forced open in seconds.”
Improvements Over Time, But Still a Risk
The proportion of burglaries involving windows has fallen from around 27% in 2015 to 20% in 2025, thanks to better doors and windows, alarms, and other security measures. However, with police recording 154,161 residential burglaries in the year to December 2025, tens of thousands of homes still have windows as the entry point.
Heath added: “The long-term fall in window-related break-ins is encouraging, but there is still a lot of low-hanging fruit for burglars. If we give as much thought to our windows as we do to our front doors, we can make their job a lot harder.”
Simple Habits to Protect Your Home
Security experts recommend these practical steps:
- Treat windows like doors: Never leave a ground-floor window open while you nip out or go to bed.
- Upgrade older windows: Modern locks or replacement units can deter burglars more effectively than old, flimsy mechanisms.
- Consider access points: Windows reachable from a flat roof, balcony, or drainpipe need the same attention as those at street level.
- Establish a lock-up routine: Check all windows and doors every night to eliminate easy opportunities.
For most homes, the real value of the new burglary data is not about creating fear, but about helping people focus their efforts where it matters most.
