Two over 50s arrested for burglary every day

• Over the last three and a half years nearly 3,000 over 50s have been arrested on suspicion of burglary, an average of more than two every day
• Merseyside has the highest rate of arrests for burglaries by the over 50s followed by Derbyshire and Dorset
   

New analysis¹ from Churchill Home Insurance reveals that crime really is a career for life in the UK, and is not just committed by the young. There have been nearly 3,000 arrests of burglars aged over 50 since 2014, averaging more than two arrests every single day.

On a regional level, Merseyside Police recorded the highest rate of arrests of older burglars, with 10 per cent of the 3,018 burglars arrested in the period aged over 50.  Derbyshire Police had the second highest proportion of older criminals, with seven per cent of all arrests for burglaries between 2014 and 2017 involving an older offender.  Dorset Police was third, with five per cent of all burglary arrests involving a suspect over 50. In Hertfordshire and Surrey, more than one in twenty of those arrested on suspicion of burglary was aged over 50. 

Table one:  Police forces with the highest proportion of burglaries committed by the over 50s

Source: Churchill Home Insurance 2018

In 2016, (the latest year with full 12-month data available) 8,967²people were charged with domestic burglary across the UK, of which 359 were over the age of 50 (four per cent). Of those charged, 7,070 were subsequently found guilty including 270 over 50s (3.8 per cent). In terms of aggravated burglary, there were 706 arrests made in 2016, of which 25 were over the age of 50 (3.5 per cent). Just 205 people were found guilty of aggravated burglary, of which seven were aged 50 plus (3.5 per cent).
 

Martin Scott, head of Churchill home insurance said: “This research shows that burglary is a crime that is committed by offenders of all ages and it appears not all opportunistic thieves are young. In fact, with more experience under their belts, older burglars could present a greater threat than their younger counterparts. It is vital that home owners remain vigilant and don’t discount an older individual that may be surveilling their property.

“Checking doors and windows to make sure they are secure, keeping valuables out of sight and making the property look occupied even when it isn’t are all simple things which will help deter would-be burglars and avoid the emotional and financial trauma of becoming a victim of crime.”
 

Churchill Home Insurance offers a 24/7 burglary response³ to its customers which means, day or night, Churchill’s burglary response team is available to make the property secure after it has been broken into. Following a break in, Churchill will send an engineer to replace all damaged locks with a British standard lock and temporarily secure damaged windows and doors.
 

For more information please visit https://www.churchill.com/home-insurance/tips/burglary

ENDS
 

Notes to Editor

• ¹Freedom of Information Act request made to regional police forces across the UK on 8th August 2017. 41 of the 45 police forces provided responses, of which 38 (84 per cent) gave usable data for this analysis. All figures related to the three-and-a-half-year period covering January 2014 to June 2017.
• ²Freedom of Information Act request made to HMCTS on 8th August 2017.
• ³Churchill’s 24/7 burglary response ensures that day or night an engineer will be available to temporarily secure damaged windows and doors. Excludes Highlands and Islands. Policy and Cover limits apply. Underwritten by UK Insurance Ltd.

For further information please contact:

Claire Jarrett

Churchill PR Manager

Tel: 01651 832 411

Email: claire.jarrett@directlinegroup.co.uk

Antonia Green

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Antonia.green@citigatedewerogerson.com

0207 282 2967

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.  

Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.  

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200300 or visiting www.churchill.com/home-insurance