Budget Direct has recently released their Home burglary survey & statistics for 2021. They asked 1,000 Australians about how they protect their home against home theft as well as their attitudes towards home security.

We found some surprising statistics, including: 

  • 1 in 3 Aussies (32.2%) have security cameras installed on their property while 3 in 10 (27%) have a security alarm system
  • As many as 2 in 5 Aussies (41.4%) still leave a spare key outside their home
  • At least 1 in 10 (12.4%) Aussies say they have had packages stolen from their property
  • 1 in 5 Aussies (22%) do not know whether their community has a Neighbourhood Watch program.
  • More than 4 in 5 Aussies (82.5%) do not think that thieves will steal their tools from their homes

"Porch Piracy" and Package Theft

Online shopping reached an all-time high in 2020, with Australia Post recording $50.46 billion in online sales which is an increase of 57% year-on-year.

While we were ordering more goods online during COVID-19 and lockdown, Budget Direct found at least 1 in 10 Aussies (12.4%) have said they have had parcels or packages stolen from their front door. This doubles if you’re in South Australia (22.2%) and is also higher than average in Western Australia (15.5%).

Budget Direct’s Jonathan Kerr says, “To avoid having your goods stolen from your front door, make sure to take advantage of 24/7 parcel lockers near your workplace if you’re expecting a valuable delivery during the week.”

Kerr said, "Many delivery services will also notify you by text or email when your package is about to be delivered, so that you can reply if no-one will be at home to accept the delivery and arrange an alternative delivery time or location. This can be a great way to get extra peace of mind that your online orders will arrive safe and sound."

Tools

More than 4 in 5 Aussies (82.5%) do not think that thieves will steal their tools from their homes. However, ABS data shows that tools make up almost 1 in 5 (17%) goods stolen during home burglaries.

Budget Direct’s Jonathan Kerr said, “Tools are prime targets for thieves because they are worth a considerable amount of money, and often left unsecured in the garage or shed.

 Kerr said, “Tradies are particularly vulnerable because they may leave thousands of dollars worth of tools and materials in their ute. If they park their ute in the driveway at night, thieves do not even need to enter the home.”

Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch groups around Australia provide a vital link between Police and the Community. However, only 1 in 5 Aussies (22%) can confirm that their community has a Neighbourhood Watch program

You can find the full breakdown of the survey results at https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/home-contents-insurance/research/home-burglary-statistics.html

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature only and does not constitute personal advice. The survey was conducted by PureProfile on behalf of Budget Direct in May 2021. All figures are from this research unless stated otherwise. The survey was conducted online with a total sample size of 1,000 weighted and representative of all Australian adults (aged 18+). While Budget Direct has endeavoured to ensure the information we’ve relied on is accurate and current, we do not guarantee it and accept no liability for this information.

About Budget Direct

Budget Direct was established as an insurance provider in Australia in 2000. It is part of the international BHL group of companies headquartered in the British Isles. The group provides more than 8 million policies to insurance customers and administers $AUD 3 billion in premiums annually. Budget Direct offers Motor, Home & Contents, Motorcycle, Pet, Life and Travel Insurance as well as Roadside Assistance.

Budget Direct is a multi-award-winning insurer having won Money magazines Insurer of the Year 2021 for the fifth year in a row and Canstar’s Outstanding Value Car Insurance 2021 for 15 years in a row amongst many other awards. Our policies are underwritten by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited, an Australian insurance company regulated by APRA and a member of the Insurance Council of Australia.

About Auto & General

Auto & General has specialised in the sale, management and underwriting of insurance products in Australia since 2000. Our insurance products include car, home and contents and travel. We provide insurance for a number of brands including Budget Direct, 1st for Women, Ozicare, Virgin Money, and ING. We have contact centres based in Queensland and claims assessing centres in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, in total employing in excess of 1500 people. Our commitment to providing exceptional service has seen the company win multiple industry awards.

Media Contact

For any questions or additional details on the survey and its data, please contact [email protected].

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