Police recorded burglary in England and Wales fell 12% to 229,223 offences in the year ending September 2025 (ONS data). The fall is mostly from improved standards — TS007 3-star cylinders, anti-snap upgrades, and better awareness. Cornwall benefits from being below the national average for urban burglary, but has specific risks: seasonal second-home theft, coastal opportunist theft, and remote-property break-ins where police response times are longer. This guide is a practical Cornwall-specific checklist that takes 30 minutes to work through and probably eliminates 80% of your burglary risk.

The big-picture stats (UK, 2025)

  • 229,223 recorded burglary offences (year ending Sept 2025) — down 12% on the previous year (ONS)
  • Average burglary insurance claim: £3,500+
  • Lock snapping accounts for 8% of forced-entry burglaries nationally — but up to 35% in some areas (2023 UK Crime Report)
  • Most common entry points: front door (35%), back door (25%), windows (20%), outbuildings (14%)
  • Most burglaries last under 10 minutes from entry to exit — opportunist, not planned

The 30-minute Cornwall checklist

Front door (5 minutes)

  • ☐ Mortice lock is BS3621 (kitemark on faceplate)
  • ☐ Euro cylinder is TS007 3-star (stars stamped on cylinder body) — or planned upgrade
  • ☐ Cylinder doesn't protrude more than 3 mm from the door faceplate
  • ☐ Night latch is BS3621-compliant (if wooden door)
  • ☐ Door is solid (composite, hardwood, or thick UPVC — not flimsy modern internal-grade)
  • ☐ Hinges are non-rising (or have hinge bolts)
  • ☐ Door frame is in good condition (rot, splits, or loose strikes mean reduced security)

Back door (5 minutes)

  • ☐ Same lock standards as front (often more important — back doors are less visible to neighbours)
  • ☐ Glass panels are laminated or have grilles if at risk of being broken to reach inside
  • ☐ Cat-flap, dog-flap, or letterbox can't be used to reach an internal key
  • ☐ Patio / French doors have secondary key-operated locks at top and bottom (insurance requirement on many policies)

Windows (5 minutes)

  • ☐ Key-operated locks on all accessible windows (ground floor + first floor reachable from extensions, conservatories, flat roofs)
  • ☐ Window restrictors on opening lights (prevents the window being opened wide enough to climb through)
  • ☐ Keys to window locks are stored away from the windows (NOT on the windowsill)

Outbuildings and shed (10 minutes)

  • ☐ Sold Secure Gold padlock + matching hasp/staple
  • ☐ Bike and high-value tool ground anchor (Sold Secure Diamond if bike £1,500+)
  • ☐ Shed window protected (mesh, frosted, or shuttered)
  • ☐ Contents specifically listed on insurance if exceeding policy's outbuilding limit
  • ☐ Side gate to garden has a long-throw bolt + Sold Secure padlock
  • ☐ Garden gate hinges have anti-lift bolts

(See our shed and outbuilding guide for the detail.)

Visibility and routine (5 minutes)

  • ☐ House looks lived-in when you're away (timer lights, post collected, car not removed for weeks)
  • ☐ No social media posts saying "off on holiday for 2 weeks"
  • ☐ Doorbell camera or visible CCTV at front entrance
  • ☐ Front of house lit at night (motion-sensor floodlights or porch lights)
  • ☐ No valuables visible through windows (laptops, jewellery, expensive bikes, tools)
  • ☐ Spare key NOT under a flowerpot, doormat, or in a fake rock — use a police-approved key safe

Cornwall-specific risk factors

Second-home and holiday-let theft

Cornwall has thousands of second homes and 12,837+ active Airbnb listings. Properties vacant during winter months are higher-risk. Counter-measures:

  • Local key-holder service — someone who visits monthly to check, collect post, leave subtle signs of occupation
  • Monitored alarm with current-spec signalling (Red Care was phased out August 2025)
  • Time-switch lighting on a random schedule
  • Notify neighbours when you'll be away

Coastal-path properties

Walking distance from the coastal path can mean tourists notice items through windows. Don't leave expensive bikes, surfboards, or kit visible.

Remote rural properties

Bodmin Moor, the Lizard, far west Penwith — police response times are longer than in towns. Layer the security: better locks + alarm + CCTV + visible neighbour engagement.

Summer tourist surge

July-August see opportunist theft from tourist cars and rented properties. Holiday let owners should brief guests on basic security (don't leave doors unlocked, use the key safe properly, alert hosts to any suspicious activity).

The "what to do if it happens" checklist

  1. If you arrive home and suspect a break-in: Don't enter. Call 999 if it's in progress; 101 if it's been and gone.
  2. Wait outside until police clear the property.
  3. Photograph everything before touching — entry point, displaced items, damage.
  4. Call your insurer as soon as you can to log the claim.
  5. Call a locksmith for emergency boarding-up + repair/upgrade quote.
  6. Don't tidy up until insurer's loss adjuster has visited (for high-value claims).
  7. Change locks immediately — even if not damaged, the burglars may have taken keys.

What the data tells us

Two encouraging trends (ONS year ending Sept 2025):

  • Burglary down 12% nationally
  • Lock-snapping down from ~20% of forced entries (pre-TS007) to ~8% (today)

One concerning trend:

  • Caravan theft up 25% since 2020 (mostly "search and strip")
  • Keyless car theft now 56-58% of car thefts (relay attacks)

The takeaway: passive security (TS007 locks, BS3621 mortice, multipoint mechanisms) works against traditional burglary methods. Active security (alarms, CCTV, faraday pouches, monitored systems) is increasingly important against the newer threats.

Want a Cornwall locksmith to audit your home security and quote any upgrades? Submit your postcode — we offer security audits with itemised pricing across Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Falmouth, Penzance, and all Cornwall towns.

Frequently asked questions

How common is burglary in Cornwall in 2026?

UK burglary fell 12% to 229,223 offences in the year ending Sept 2025 (ONS). Cornwall has lower urban burglary rates than the national average but specific risks: second-home seasonal theft, coastal opportunist theft, and longer police response times in remote areas. Most Cornwall burglaries are opportunist — defeated by basic upgrades.

What's the single biggest security upgrade for a Cornwall home?

For UPVC/composite doors: upgrade the euro cylinder to TS007 3-star + Sold Secure Diamond (anti-snap). For wooden doors: ensure mortice lock is BS3621 + add a BS3621 night latch. Both cost £100-£200 fitted and defeat the most common UK forced-entry methods.

What insurance security requirements should I meet?

Most UK home policies require: BS3621 locks on wooden external doors, TS007 3-star cylinders on UPVC/composite, key-operated window locks on all accessible windows, alarm for high-contents-value properties. Read your policy schedule — failures can mean refused claims after burglary.

Are Cornwall coastal properties higher risk?

Generally yes — for opportunist theft from tourist areas, second-home break-ins during off-season, and outbuilding theft (surfboards, bikes, fishing gear). Remote rural properties have longer police response times. Layered security matters more in these areas than typical urban properties.

What should I do if I'm burgled in Cornwall?

Don't enter. Call 999 if it's in progress; 101 if it's been and gone. Wait outside until police clear the property. Photograph everything before touching. Call your insurer to log the claim. Call a locksmith for emergency boarding-up. Change all external locks immediately — even undamaged ones (the burglars may have taken keys).