Careless mistakes could be costing homeowners thousands of dollars by leaving them exposed to robbery, particularly in the Sydney areas recently revealed to have the highest volume of burglaries.
While break and enter rates have declined over the long term, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said some parts of Sydney do have a much higher risk of home burglary than elsewhere.
“Last year, the Sydney councils with the highest rates of burglary relative to their population were Hunters Hill, Parramatta, Strathfield, the City & Inner South and Cumberland LGAs,” she said.
Parramatta is among the areas with the highest number of burglaries relative to population. Picture: Supplied
While these are largely transport-connected hubs with high housing density, Ms Fitzgerald said there was no single reason a suburb might have higher burglary rates.
“They tend to reflect a combination of housing design and ease of access, predictable periods when homes are unoccupied, levels of natural surveillance, and the attractiveness of what is inside,” she said.
Compare the Market’s Chris Ford said thieves most commonly targeted electronics, jewellery and cash, according to their data.
“They’re small, valuable and incredibly easy for thieves to resell,” he said.
“It’s a reminder for households to secure valuables, keep them out of sight and make sure their insurance adequately covers these high‑risk categories.”
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A generic photo of crime in North Queensland. Picture: iStock
Research from Compare the Market in September 2025 found that 23.4 per cent of Australians surveyed have had to make a home and/or contents insurance claim in the last five years, with the average amount paid out by insurers for theft being $11,776.
According to Ms Fitzgerald, there have been large falls in break and enter crimes in Greater Sydney over the last ten years.
“From 2016 to 2025, residential break ins have fallen 44 per cent and commercial break ins have fallen 31 per cent,” she said.
“These improvements can be seen across all 15 Sydney council areas.”
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Home safety tips. Picture: NSW Police
David Spottiswood’s company Titan Shutters has installed security shutters for many Aussies following burglaries.
Mr Spottiswood said for most clients, burglars had come in through the windows, seeing that lights were off in the home or that items such as car keys were in plain sight.
“A lot of break ins we see result in cars being stolen or property being stolen,” he said.
“But the mental and emotional toll is priceless.”
Mr Spottiswood said the reason why security shutters were effective in burglary prevention is that when down intruders cannot see what is behind it.
“It’s about feeling secure in your own home, but it’s also about raising the bar for the person trying to come in,” he said.
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Security cameras are one of many steps that can be taken to improve home security.
Ms Fitzgerald said residents can reduce their risk of burglary by taking simple steps to secure doors and windows, improve lighting and visibility, make homes look occupied when they’re away and keep valuables out of sight.
“An upside of owning a dog is that barking can also be a deterrent to would-be thieves,” she added.
According to NSW Police, a large number of break and enter crimes are easily preventable.
NSW Police have a number of home safety tips listed online, which include securing windows with key operated locks, installing quality security lights and having a monitored intruder alarm system installed.
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