Burglary rises 'not inevitable'

The website will offer people the chance to test their home security

The recession should not inevitably lead to more burglaries despite past increases, the home secretary has said.

Jacqui Smith told the BBC while it had been the "historical situation", it was not a foregone conclusion this time.

But burglaries in England and Wales started to rise at the end of 2008 - the first increase in seven years.

Ms Smith's comments came as she held a "burglary summit" for police, insurance firms, DIY stores and charities for elderly people in England and Wales.

The summit also coincided with the beginning of a crime prevention campaign.

Figures show burglaries increased by 4% between July and September, compared with the similar period in 2007.

There were 69,000 break-ins at homes in England and Wales during the three-month period.

I think it's important that we act before there's a problem Home secretary Jacqui Smith

Burglaries of commercial premises were also up.

Ms Smith told BBC Breakfast she wanted to "get on the front foot" adding: "I think it's important that we act before there's a problem.

"I want to make sure that we're providing people with the best possible advice to protect their homes, that we're bringing together the partners that can help to keep burglary down."

Security fund

BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said that over the past 30 years, burglary rates appeared to have peaked at times of economic hardship, like the mid-1980s and the early 1990s.

But Ms Smith told the BBC: "My argument is that has been the historic situation.

"I don't think there is anything inevitable about that happening this time."

Ms Smith wants to stop criminals taking advantage of tough times

The summit, which also involves Neighbourhood Watch representatives, aims to work out ways of limiting opportunities for burglars.

It has been backed by a special fund to help people on low incomes improve their security.

People have also been alerted to a three-minute test on the Home Office website about their own home security.

At the end of the test they will get a score for their level of protection and advice on how to increase it.

The summit comes as police warn householders to beware of what they believe is the growing problem of "car key burglary", in which a person's car keys are stolen from their home.

Because of improved car security, many vehicles cannot now be stolen without the keys and the Association of Chief Police Officers said this kind of targeted theft now accounted for 8% of all break-ins.

Last year, a leaked memo from Ms Smith to Gordon Brown warned of a likely increase in "acquisitive" crimes, including burglary, as a result of the economic downturn.

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