The central Birmingham postcode of B5 is Britain’s top burglary claims hotspot, according to MoneySuperMarket’s annual burglary claims tool.
The price comparison website analysed 3.1million home insurance claims over the last two years to identify the locations of the highest and lowest rate of claims for home contents theft within a five-year period. The research reveals a 2.5% increase in claims at an average of 16.04 claims per 1,000 in 2019 – up from 15.65 in 2018.
B5 – which covers Digbeth, Highgate and Lee Bank – tops the rankings with a rate of 57.14 home contents theft claims per 1,000 quotes.
Metropolitan areas dominate the rankings for areas with the highest amount of claims, with 18 postcodes out of the top 20 being located in Britain’s three largest cities. Nine are located in Greater London, four in Greater Birmingham and four in Greater Manchester, while one is in Bristol.
One suburban and one rural area feature in the Top 20. The Surrey commuter belt postcode of GU23 – which covers Send, Ripley, Ockham and Wisley – has a home contents theft claims rate of 46.80 per 1,000 claims. The Cotswolds postcode of WR12- which covers Broadway – has a claims rate of 47.97 per 1,000.
| Highest Amount of Burglary Claims | |||
| Rank | Postal District | Postcode location | Rate (per 1000) * |
| 1 | B5 | Digbeth, Highgate, Lee Bank | 57.14 |
| 2 | B94 | Olton, Solihull | 52.63 |
| 3 | IG5 | Clayhall | 51.64 |
| 4 | N21 | Winchmore Hill, Bush Hill, Grange Park | 50.13 |
| 5 | M21 | Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Firswood | 49.22 |
| 6 | BS7 | Bishopston, Horfield, Filton | 49.13 |
| 7 | SK4 | Stockport, Four Heatons | 49.12 |
| 8 | B96 | Redditch | 49.06 |
| 9 | WR12 | Broadway | 47.97 |
| 10 | IG9 | Buckhurst Hill | 47.83 |
| 11 | SK8 | Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green | 47.62 |
| 12 | IG4 | Redbridge | 47.12 |
| 13 | B15 | Edgbaston, Lee Bank | 47.08 |
| 14 | E18 | Woodford, South Woodford | 47.04 |
| 15 | M20 | Didsbury, Withington | 47.02 |
| 16 | RM14 | Upminster, Cranham, North Ockendon, Bulphan | 46.80 |
| 17 | GU23 | Send, Ripley, Ockham, Wisley | 46.80 |
| 18 | NW11 | Golders Green, Hampstead Garden Suburb | 46.79 |
| 19 | SE21 | Dulwich, Dulwich Village, West Dulwich, Tulse Hill, Sydenham Hill | 46.12 |
| 20 | IG7 | Chigwell | 45.89 |
At the other end of the rankings, the Staffordshire town of Leek (ST13) has the fewest burglary claims, with 0.69 claims per 1,000 quotes. The Scottish postcodes of G84 (Clynder, Cove, Garelochhead, Kilcreggan, Rhy, Rosneath, Shandon) and KY4 (Cowdenbeath) follow, with claims rates of 0.87 and 1.09 per 1,000 quotes respectively.
The research also reveals the top five postcodes with the highest average claims, with Birmingham and Greater London postcodes again featuring prominently:
- B20 – Birchfield, Handsworth Wood, Perry Barr – £8,000
- IG7 – Chigwell – £6,000
- WD25 – Garston, Aldenham, Leavesden, Letchmore Heath – £5,000
- TW13 – Feltham, Hanworth – £4,750
- TW14 – Hatton – £4,600
Burglaries remain more common in colder, darker months, with claim numbers 12% higher in autumn than in summer. Houses also remain the preferred target of burglars and are 70% more likely to be burgled than flats.