Recent Home Office figures reveal that Surrey Police solved less than 20 percent of burglaries in 2022, making them one of the worst-performing police forces in the country.

According to the figures published by the Liberal Democrats, around 82.22 percent or eight out of 10 break-ins between June 2022-2023 in Surrey were not resolved. This means that out of 3,679 burglaries reported in Surrey in the 12 months leading up to June 2022, only 364 were solved. 

The number of burglaries solved in Surrey decreased slightly from 82.80 percent in 21/22. However, the recorded number of reports for Surrey is fewer than most English and Welsh police forces. 

Only South Yorkshire and Hampshire had worse records, with 84.21 percent and 82.46 percent, respectively. In comparison, Cumbria had the highest burglary clearance rate in England and Wales, with 59.12 percent of cases unsolved.

In response to the data, Surrey Police reaffirmed their commitment to tackling burglaries and responding to all home break-ins. This is in line with new standards introduced in June of this year.

“We are committed to deploying officers to all home burglaries. We recognise how invasive and traumatic it can be to be a victim of burglary, and this is why we are already investing significant resources in preventing and tackling these offences, alongside providing the appropriate support and advice to victims,” said a spokesperson for Surrey Police.

The spokesperson said the force has “a proactive team” in its three divisions that reviews all burglaries, identifies hot spots, and targets prolific offenders. 

New classifications

According to the spokesperson, newly-introduced burglary classifications will enable officers to focus on home burglaries and meet the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) pledge of attending all home burglaries.

Burglaries used to be split into two categories: residential and business and community. Residential burglaries included all buildings and parts of buildings that are part of a dwelling, including sheds, garages, outhouses, and summer houses.

New changes have split residential burglaries into two categories: residential burglaries of homes and residential burglaries of unconnected buildings. All sheds, outhouses, and garages that do not have a connecting door to the house will be classified as detached buildings.

“Our figures show that we have solved 81 more offences than the previous 12 months and so far have had 125 less offences (between April 2023 and June 2023 compared to April 2022 and June 2022),” said the spokesperson.

Advice for Surrey residents

In the wake of the new findings, Surrey Police highlighted their advice page on protecting your home/outbuildings from theft, especially if you live in a high-value property or own high-value items.

Homeowners should strengthen the locks and security of their windows and doors, as these are the most common entry points for burglars.

A Master Locksmith Association member can ensure your door is made of durable composite material, reinforce the frame and check if the locks and hinges meet British Standard (BS) requirements. 

For your windows on the ground level and upstairs, install laminated glass or security film and sash to hinder visibility and prevent entry. Key-operated locks are recommended for window types that open out. 

Install a CCTV camera that can capture motion around your home. You can upload video footage and images to the public CCTV submission portal to help burglary investigations, which are monitored to identify crime hotspots and trends.

Lastly, consider hiring security companies like Marengo to create a personalised security plan to fortify your home and prevent yourself from becoming a burglary victim.