As the nights draw in we’re reviewing the crime picture for the third quarter of 2023 (the period spanning July to September) and seeing what the trends are for the four types of crime we are most able to protect against. Generally speaking, crime rates drop in the winter as there is a link with the temperature. Indeed violent crimes and muggings are coming down in prevalence over the late summer months into September, but sadly many other types of crime were still high over this period.
Burglaries are our first stop in the crime picture, and Q3 saw an increase from Q2, rising from 4,516 in the April to June period to 4,937 in the last three months. That’s an average of 140 extra burglaries a month. There are a number of factors at play with burglary rates. In the winter it is easier for housebreakers to hide in the shadows from dusk, and it is easier to tell which homes are unoccupied with no lights on in the early evening. That said, around half of burglaries are committed while someone is home, so vacancy isn’t always a draw for the determined thief.
The main influence on crime in the last year has been the rising cost of living, so it is no surprise that burglaries are rising, as people turn to crime to fund their food and electricity bills. The rates of first time offenders being imprisoned continue to rise, with a 43% increase in juvenile first time offenders in 2022, when the cost of living crisis began to bite. As the jaws of this crisis tighten we expect this rate to further increase.
Vehicle crime is the one area of the four where a continued decrease is seen, and we believe this is largely due to the West Midlands Police Force’s focus on organised gangs that run chop shops. The Q3 vehicle crime total was 8,193 crimes compared to 8,849 in the preceding three month period. This is great news, but we urge motorists to exercise caution when parking in unfamiliar areas. Keep valuables out of sight, park in well-lit areas and keep your keys secure when you’re at home, to avoid becoming the victim of keyless car thefts; keeping keys in a metal box far away from the vehicle stops thieves hacking the signal and starting your car.
Shoplifting continues to rise, which comes as no surprise considering that many ordinarily law-abiding people feel forced to steal food for survival. While the price of some foods may be coming down, the squeeze is still on from energy bills, rent and other outgoings and this means shoplifting is still a tempting option.
The Q3 period saw a total of 6,351 reports of shoplifting (although the true number may be higher), compared to 5,560 in the previous period. An increase of 263 incidents per month is significant, and we expect to see a further increase over the Christmas period when stealing festive food and presents will be the only option for many.
Lastly, bike theft rates rose slightly to 678 thefts in Q3 compared to 572 in the April to June period. The warmer weather we had into early October will have contributed to this, as normally we’d expect a levelling out or even a drop at this time of year. Many fair-weather cyclists keep their machines secured at home, in wet and cold weather, leading fewer opportunities to steal and to sell.
Burglar alarms, CCTV and common sense are the top three weapons in the fight against crime and we can supply you with the first two with a system designed around your needs and your lifestyle. Whether you’re a business owner, homeowner or renter we have security products that will help keep you safe so call us today and avoid becoming one of these statistics.