Burglary is ‘risk free’ pursuit
Over two-thirds of burglars say their criminal activities are “virtually risk free” according to a new Home Office survey.
Researchers spoke to dozens of intruders to learn more about how they became involved in crime and how they selected their targets.
The answers from Britain’s burglars show that 69 per cent have no fear of being caught, while only 10 per cent think they have a high chance of being apprehended by police.
Researchers discovered that burglars were even more confident about evading the law once stolen property had been sold or given away.
Just seven per cent of burglars still thought they faced a high risk of being arrested once stolen goods were out of their hands, with 89 per cent saying there was little risk of being apprehended once property had been passed on.
“Once inside a property, residential burglary for this sample of offenders was regarded as virtually risk free. The threat of detection during the course of a burglary or after disposal of goods was considered an insufficient deterrent,” the Home Office report concludes.
Opposition parties say the research proves criminals are taking advantage of falling detection rates and the lack of a police presence on the streets.
“At the same as the Government tries to claim burglary is going down, this research shows how many burglars feel perfectly safe committing this crime at will,” said Shadow Home Secretary David Davis.
“This is because under Labour detection rates for burglary have halved,” he added.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: “Burglary has clearly become less of a gamble and more like a job for life.”
A Home Office spokeswoman stressed that the “risk of being burgled remains at its lowest for 20 years.”
“But we are not complacent, there is still much to do to keep burglary levels down and drive them down further in highest crime areas,” she added.
