Cumbria's burglary hotspots revealed

New research shows people living in Carlisle and Barrow are most likely to be burgled than those residing anywhere else in the county.

Police are now urging people to take steps to secure their home in an effort to prevent the “distressing and impactive” crime.

Since 2017, Cumbria Constabulary has tackled at least 5,638 cases of residential burglary – and more than a quarter of those burglaries were in Carlisle.

Around 260 were recorded there in 2021, the equivalent of 24 for every 10,000 people.

There were 153 in Barrow in 2021, among 918 recorded in five years.

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Householders in Eden were least likely to be burgled that year, with 56 residential burglaries flagged in the area.

But even the highest rates in Cumbria were low in comparison to elsewhere in England and Wales – and the number of burglaries recorded by police is falling across the county.

In 2017, more than 1,100 residential raids were reported compared to 868 last year, a drop of around a quarter.

However, homeowners and tenants have been warned not to become complacent in the battle against burglars.

A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said simple steps such as locking doors, not leaving out of sight windows open and removing valuables from view could help to battle the burglars.

He added: “We recognise that being burgled, especially in your home, can be extremely impactive and distressing.

“Burglaries and theft offences are often committed by opportunist criminals who seek to take advantage of insecure homes, outbuildings or vehicles.

“We would always encourage people to take simple preventative steps themselves to prevent crimes such as burglary or theft.

“We would also encourage you to be vigilant and report suspicious activity you witness.”

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The spokesman said it was pleasing to see burglaries down across most of Cumbria, highlighting the work of officers, staff and the wider community in tackling the issue.

Cumbria Constabulary allocates burglaries to CID detectives to ensure specialist expertise is deployed from the outset.

Extra resources and specialist tactics are used to apprehend serial offenders and gather evidence.

Jessica Willock from confused.com, which gathered the figures we analysed, said: “Although burglary rates seem to be dropping year on year, it’s still as important to make sure your home is safe. 

“This includes some simple changes, such as investing in smart home security.”

For more information on keeping properties and possessions safe, visit https://www.cumbria.police.uk/get-advice/crime-prevention