Burglaries in Winchester have decreased by a quarter in the past year, according to new figures.

Across the entire UK, 281,872 burglaries were recorded in the last year, which translates to a crime rate of 4.3 burglaries for every 1,000 citizens.

The data, analysed by Churchill Support Services shows the cost of burglary and theft to small businesses reaches £12.9 billion every year, whereas the average value of items stolen during a home burglary adds up to £2,800, with an extra £600 for damages and repairs.

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This can make burglaries financially crippling, especially if victims are targeted many times.

In the past year there were 380 burglaries in Winchester district against a population of 124,295, resulting in a burglary rate of 3.1 per 1,000 people in the city. This is actually a reduction of 31 per cent from 2022.

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The burglary rate was similar across Hampshire, which had an average burglary rate of 3.9 per 1,000, with the county seeing 7,814 burglaries. This placed Hampshire as the 21st worst burglary hotspot in the UK. The 3.9 rate per 1,000 people is lower than the UK average of 4.3.

There are two main types of burglary; residential and non-residential. Approximately two-thirds of burglaries are residential, which includes houses, flats, apartments, mobile homes, and student accommodation.

Non-residential burglaries is a much broader term, and encompasses small businesses, shops, offices, compounds, and industrial sites.