The 12 UK areas where homes are least likely to be broken into: Scotland rated the safest according to new research

Property owners in these areas of Scotland are the least likely to suffer a housebreaking (burglary), according to a new study.

By Thomas Mackay

Published 22nd Aug 2022, 13:44 GMT

New research conducted by Confused.com has ranked the UK areas with the lowest number of burglaries (or housebreakings) according to their population.

Scotland (on a technicality) experiences zero ‘burglaries’ annually. According to Crime.Scot there is no crime of burglary in Scotland, rather the term we use is ‘housebreaking’.

Housebreaking refers to theft via breaking into someone’s home or breaking in with the intention to steal.

Technicality aside (as this study factors in both ‘burglary’ and ‘housebreaking’) East Dunbartonshire was deemed the safest UK region to live in, with only 0.44 housebreakings having occurred per 1,000 people last year.

Continue reading to learn the top 12 UK areas least likely to experience a burglary or housebreaking, and how many of them are located in Scotland.

This is one of Scotland’s 32 council areas that borders the north of Glasgow, including towns and villages such as Milngavie, Bearsden, Torrance and Balmore. This was revealed as the UK’s safest region from housebreaking as just 0.44 housebreaking incidents were reported per 1,000 people in 2021. Furthermore, the region’s housebreaking rate has dropped by 26.94% on average each year since 2017.

1. East Dunbartonshire

This is one of Scotland’s 32 council areas that borders the north of Glasgow, including towns and villages such as Milngavie, Bearsden, Torrance and Balmore. This was revealed as the UK’s safest region from housebreaking as just 0.44 housebreaking incidents were reported per 1,000 people in 2021. Furthermore, the region’s housebreaking rate has dropped by 26.94% on average each year since 2017. Photo: Kzenon (Canva Pro)

This council area, located in the Scottish highlands, is the largest local government area in the UK. It borders the council areas of Argyll and Bute, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Perth and Kinross. Total housebreakings per 1,000 people in 2021 was as low as 0.47, and the area has seen a 5.33% drop in the rate of this crime yearly since 2017.

2. Highland

This council area, located in the Scottish highlands, is the largest local government area in the UK. It borders the council areas of Argyll and Bute, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Perth and Kinross. Total housebreakings per 1,000 people in 2021 was as low as 0.47, and the area has seen a 5.33% drop in the rate of this crime yearly since 2017. Photo: CIPhotos (Getty Images)

The Aberdeenshire council area encompasses the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, as well as a portion of Banffshire. A mere 0.50 housebreakings per 1,000 people occurred here in 2021, and the percentage drop in the annual housebreaking rate since 2017 sits at 6.05%.

3. Aberdeenshire

The Aberdeenshire council area encompasses the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, as well as a portion of Banffshire. A mere 0.50 housebreakings per 1,000 people occurred here in 2021, and the percentage drop in the annual housebreaking rate since 2017 sits at 6.05%. Photo: iweta0077 (Getty Images)

Located in central Scotland, the Stirling local authority borders council areas including Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute, and both East and West Dunbartonshire. Since 2017, it has seen a larger drop in its rate of housebreakings annually at 23.26%. It also had 0.56 housebreakings per 1,000 people occur last year.

4. Stirling

Located in central Scotland, the Stirling local authority borders council areas including Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute, and both East and West Dunbartonshire. Since 2017, it has seen a larger drop in its rate of housebreakings annually at 23.26%. It also had 0.56 housebreakings per 1,000 people occur last year. Photo: alanfin (Getty Images)