Norfolk is one of the safest places to live – but still take steps to protect your home

Norfolk has the second fewest burglaries in the country, according to recent research, with Suffolk coming in third.

According to security company ADT’s 2023 Burglary Report, the county is one of the least targeted areas of England and Wales by home robbers.

It saw just 3.3 burglaries per 1,000 residences in the year ending March 2023.

This represents a decrease of 5.9 per cent in the burglary rate from 2022 for areas including Norwich and King’s Lynn.

Suffolk experienced 3.7 burglaries per 1,000 households in the same period, with burglaries decreasing by 9.8 per cent since last year.

The safest place to live was Devon and Cornwall, which experienced 2.3 burglaries per 1,000 households.

Despite Norfolk being one of the safest counties in which to live, experts still advise homeowners to take steps to protect their homes.

These include:

*Installing a smart home security system, which can include a range of sensors and camera devices, as well as an alarm. A visible alarm system is a strong deterrent to potential burglars, as criminals are less likely to target a home that is protected.

*Installing two locks and ensuring they are working correctly and are of a high quality, with a strong cylinder, like a diamond cylinder. Having two locks brings additional protection in the event of a burglar succeeding to destroy one of them.

*Installing a video doorbell and cameras. With 24/7 motion detection and automatic recording, video doorbells and cameras can deter criminals and also provide video evidence of any attempted home break-in.

*Locking away valuables. Most burglars target small valuables that are left in plain sight and difficult to trace. You should always hide items like your purse, wallet, and jewellery at night and when you leave your house.

*Taking care on social media. Posting your holiday dates while you are at the airport or on holiday as well as your current whereabouts on social media can let people know you are out of your home and potentially away for a long period of time. This is the ideal time for burglars to strike.

*Lighting up your home when it is dark. Well-lit exteriors make your property less appealing to potential intruders. Install motion-activated lights around any entry points, particularly porches and gardens, which alert you to movement on your property. Using smart plugs allows you to turn on a few well-appointed lights and radios or televisions from any location from your phone. Programming lights to come on at different times throughout the night and when you are away will help to deter burglars by making your property look occupied.

*Keeping your garden trimmed. Thieves look for escape routes and hiding spots when deciding which homes to break into, making gardens with high, overgrown hedges more likely to be targeted. It’s also worth locking away any tools and equipment that could assist a burglar such as ladders, or a garden spade to force entry.