August 12, 2014
Nearly one-third of all burglaries in Queensland occur while the occupants are at home, according to RACQ Insurance.
The Queensland insurer’s 2014 Home Security Index revealed 32 per cent of burglaries occurred while the householders were at home, up 7 per cent on last year.
“Our research shows more than half of the State’s householders (55 per cent) are so concerned about burglaries, they’re worried about taking holidays and leaving their homes unattended,” RACQ spokesman Mike Sopinski said.
“In order to reduce the number of burglaries, Queenslanders need to keep home security top of mind.
“It’s concerning that 16 per cent of all break-ins occur through open or unlocked doors and almost one-third (31 per cent) of Queenslanders surveyed admit they sometimes leave their home unlocked.”
Other key methods of break-ins included:
- Window forced open (40 per cent)
- Door forced open (38 per cent)
- Open/unlocked window (6 per cent)
Mr Sopinski said there were some simple steps people could take to prevent burglaries.
“Refrain from sharing your movements on social media sites,” he said.
“By posting where you are, you’re highlighting to others that you’re out of the house.
“Don’t leave windows and doors open, even when you’re at home. And don’t assume balcony doors or high windows are safe to leave unlocked – thieves are good at finding ways to overcome these obstacles.”
