Point and Method of Entry

• In 44% of incidents burglars gained or tried to gain entry from the front of a dwelling. In 46% they approached the rear.

• Burglars were most likely to target doors (71%), usually by forcing a lock (28%). Breaking door panels, forcing window locks and breaking glass in windows were also relatively common methods of entry.1

• However, in 21% of burglaries with entry the burglar gained access through an unlocked door and in 6% via an open window. In the 1998 BCS the figures were 15% and 8% respectively.2

• Only 6% of all burglaries involved the use of false pretences to gain access to the home, but this increased to 13% among households headed by someone aged 60 or over.