Number of burglaries plummets as people stay at home during pandemic

By Rebecca Spencer

The number of burglaries in South London has fallen in 2020 as people have stayed at home during lockdowns and the pandemic, according to government data.

Homes in Lambeth, Kensington and Chelsea, Croydon, and Bromley suffered less raids by thieves in April 2020 compared to April 2019, with break-ins having decreased by more than a third.

Greenwich, Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Merton, and Bexley experienced less than half the number of residential burglaries in April this year than they did in April 2019.

Bexley had the biggest drop, with only 34 incidents recorded in April compared to 118 incidents in April 2019, a decrease of 71 per cent.

South London homes have experienced many more incidents of burglary than West London boroughs over the past 24 months.

Residential burglaries look to be on the rise again as Christmas draws near.