While thousands of households experience a burglary each year, new research from Compare the Market shows that Queensland is the break-in capital of Australia.

A new survey from the comparison website found that 8.9% of households in the Sunshine State have reported a home break-in over the past 12 months, up from the national average of 7%.

In contrast, just 4.7% of people from New South Wales reported a break-in, followed by Victoria (6.5%), Western Australia (7.5%) and South Australia (8.2%).

Those in Western Australia are more likely to be home when a break-in occurs, while Queensland homes are most likely to be targeted when owners or renters aren’t home.

Meanwhile, Gen Z is the generation most likely to report having their home broken into (15.3%) compared to just 0.7% of Baby Boomers. Male respondents also had a higher rate of reported home break-ins than women, at 8.5% compared to 6.9% of women.

Compare the Market’s General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, says that many homeowners have become relaxed about home security since COVID-19 lockdowns, but now’s the time to start taking it seriously again.

“Covid travel restrictions are now becoming a thing of the past and as more of us return to the office, jet away on holidays and get out and about, it can create a perfect opportunity for brazen thieves,” Mr Taylor says.

“Crime rates are soaring in some parts of Australia and having effective home security measures in place is one of the key ways to prevent burglaries and deter thieves.

“Unfortunately, our research shows that a staggering number of households have no security measures in place at all. With the Easter long weekend and school holidays just around the corner, now’s the time to protect your home if you’re heading away.”

Alarmingly, around one in 10 Aussies admit to having no home security in place. Victorian households are most likely to ditch these safety measures (13.8%), compared to 6.4% in Queensland, 8.2% in South Australia, 9.3% in Western Australia and 11.7% in New South Wales.

And, while Gen Z reports the highest number of break-ins of any generation, they’re also most likely to have no security at home.

“It’s worrying that more Australians don’t have home security measures in place to deter thieves, especially given the rising crime rates we’re seeing in some parts of the country,” Mr Taylor says.

“Our research also found that most households are still utilising many different types of security measures. Things like security cameras, alarms, deadlocks and sensor lights can deter thieves, assist when claiming on your home and contents insurance and in some cases, may also help lower the amount you pay for cover with some providers.”

Window locks and deadlocks are the most common form of security in Australian homes (53.5% and 48.1% respectively), followed by cameras (31.9%), dogs (31.1%) and sensor lights (29.7%).

Meanwhile, around a quarter of homes have alarms fitted, a third opt for gated fences and 16.3% have Crimsafe sliding doors.

“The last thing we want to see is anyone having their homes broken into, but security measures can deter potential thieves or alert you if an intruder is nearby,” Mr Taylor says. “And, if you don’t have insurance for your home and contents, it could be worthwhile securing coverage.

“Insurance won’t stop burglaries from happening, but it can prove useful if you fall victim to a break-in and need your belongings replaced. Unless you could afford to replace your belongings completely out of pocket if the worst happens, home and contents insurance can be a lifesaver.”

Mr Taylor’s top tips for home safety

1. Let your insurer know if you have security measures in place. Some insurers may offer a lower premium, while others may not insure you if they deem you don’t have enough security in place (such as not having deadbolts or window locks in high-crime areas).
2. Let thieves know you have security in place. Consider adding generic security signs or stickers to alert thieves that you have cameras, alarms and other security measures in place. Thieves may think twice if they believe they’ll be caught on camera or if they may set an alarm off.
3. Keep valuables and keys out of sight. Never leave your keys hanging in plain sight or in an obvious hiding spot (such as under the doormat or in a pot plant). This could give thieves easy access to your home. Similarly, hide valuables and big-ticket items away from windows.
4. Gather evidence if the worst happens. Cameras, video doorbells or other forms of CCTV surveillance could prove favourable if your home is burgled and you need to claim with your insurer. Evidence increases the chance of your possessions being recovered and your claim being processed and approved, if you do have to claim.
5. Don’t advertise that you’re not home. Whether you’re heading overseas or ducking out to the shops for a few hours, don’t advertise that you’re not home on social media. Instead, save these posts for when you are at home (unless you’ve got someone looking after your house while you’re away).

*Survey of 1,010 Australian adults, conducted in February, 2023. ACT, TAS and NT were excluded due to low sampling data, but included in the overall country data

For more information, please contact:  

Phillip Portman | 0437 384 471 | [email protected]

Compare the Market is a comparison service that takes the hard work out of shopping around. We make it Simples for Australians to quickly and easily compare and buy home and contents, car, pet and travel insurance along with energy products from a range of providers. Our easy-to-use comparison tool helps you look for a range of products that may suit your needs and benefit your back pocket.