New Research Reveals 6 Out Of 10 Burglary Victims Feel Insecure in Their Own Homes

NEW RESEARCH REVEALS 6 OUT OF 10 BURGLARY VICTIMS FEEL INSECURE IN THEIR OWN HOMES

To mark their 125th anniversary, UIA insurance poll the nation to discover the long-lasting impact of home burglaries and the UK's most prized possessions

Six out of ten burglary victims don't ever feel secure in their homes again, research revealed yesterday.

Experts who polled 1,000 adults who have been burgled found the trauma of a person breaking into their home has a long-lasting impact – the average victim takes seven months to return to some level of normality in their home.

But with many never feeling fully secure, a quarter of victims have subsequently had to move house after intruders broke into their home in order to feel safe once more.

Commissioned by UIA Insurance to mark their 125th anniversary, the research also saw the emotional impact increases depending on what was taken - four in ten lost sentimental items that were of little monetary value but 'irreplaceable' to them.

Yesterday Ian Cracknell, Chief Executive of UIA Insurance said: ''The emotional impact of a stranger entering your home uninvited can outweigh the physical losses that take place and, as the results show, getting that feeling of security back again can be challenging.

''The feeling that your home space has been violated or in some way tainted can make it hard for homeowners to ever feel safe again.

''Having the proper measures in place to ensure you're as protected as possible can make the difference in gaining peace of mind around your home.''

The study also found six in ten said their home felt tainted or spoiled after the break-in.

Over a third said the event caused a huge knock to their confidence and a fifth struggled to be on their own after they had been broken into. More than half said being burgled left them angry for months after the event.

And closure is hard to get, with the burglars avoiding being caught or prosecuted in more than two thirds of the burglaries studied.

In fact, the emotional upset at being a victim of crime caused the most grief for those who had been burgled, while the pain experienced by the loss of sentimental items outweighed that of losing more practical goods.

The most commonly stolen items were jewellery, followed by electronic gadgets like an mp3 player, cameras and games consoles.

But photos and family heirlooms proved the most distressing items to lose, results showed.

Over two thirds had items stolen they deemed 'very expensive' like televisions, laptops and even paintings or other valuables.

A quarter of people saw their property 'trashed' following the break in, with damage to windows and furniture or general vandalism inside their home common.

While a smashed window was the most common method of gaining entry by criminals breaking a door was the second most likely.

Ian Cracknell added: "We understand the impact this can have on people on a long-term basis, which is why UIA Insurance has assured customers that we will respond to claims promptly and we will make a payment within 3 days of a claims settlement being agreed."

TOP 10 MOST COMMONLY STOLEN ITEMS

1. Jewellery

2. Electrical gadgets - mp3 player, camera, games console etc.

3. Laptop/computer

4. TV

5. Clothing

6. Ornaments

7. Alcohol

8. Furniture

9. Bicycles

10. Toys

TOP 10 'MOST VALUED' ITEMS STOLEN

1. Family heirlooms

2. Family photographs

3. Jewellery

4. Money

5. Laptop/computer

6. Other electricals such as mp3 player, camera, games consoles etc

7. TV

8. Car

9. Clothing

10. Ornaments

To request a quote or find out more about home insurance from UIA, please visituia.co.uk/moreinfo. Alternatively, join in on the discussion on the UIA insurance Twitter page @UIAinsurance using #UIA125, the UIA insurance Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UIAInsurance) or Linked In page (https://uk.linkedin.com/company/uia-insurance-ltd).

- Ends -

For further media information contact Charlotte Treadwell or Rebecca Daniels at YOU:

T. 020 7420 3550 Email: charlotte@you-agency.com / rebeccad@you-agency.com

Notes to Editor

UIA is a mutual insurance company which has been providing high quality cover for 125 years to members of selected trade unions and other like-minded individuals, seeking competitive premiums, wide cover and the highest standards of service on home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance and car insurance.

UIA insurance follows a set of principles which enable it to keep premiums low, provide excellent products, deliver great service and employ highly trained staff. These principles are:

• Our service - Our customer service team always gives policyholders the time they need on the phone; there is no pressure to keep calls short and the team can deal with any enquiry, from underwriting to claims to account queries.

• Our products - answering our customers' needs, exceeding their expectations

• Our partners - sharing a principled approach to business; we only work with partners and suppliers who have similar values to us.

• Our people - We offer tailored training and development programmes and encourage staff to absorb new skills to achieve their full potential.

• Our community - We support many different initiatives throughout the year, including the NASUWT Young Activist of the Year Award through to UIA's own charitable foundation.

• Our governance - We will always work closely with partners to promote our industry and the markets within which we operate. We always act responsibly and in a manner that is accountable to our customers and regulators.