Across England, the average police call-out time for burglaries is more than nine hours, according to the official local.gov.uk website. More shockingly, in some areas, forces have reported delays of up to 28 hours before attending. By that point, of course, the damage is done, and the likelihood of catching the burglars and recovering your stolen items has long passed.
The scale of the problem is just as sobering. In the year ending March 2025, police recorded 166,577 home burglaries in England and Wales — an average of nearly 456 every day, according to crimerate.co.uk, the public safety data portal for the UK. Broader burglary figures (including non-residential premises) push the total closer to a quarter of a million. Yet, despite considerable advances in technology and the proliferation of inexpensive and easy-to-install security gadgets, burglary in the UK remains surprisingly high.
However, this is not just bad luck; it is a critical lack of understanding regarding how we approach security for our homes or businesses.
The Importance Of The Right Security Tech – Why It Often Fails When It Matters Most
CCTV, smart video doorbells, alarms and motion sensors are marketed as the modern shield against intruders. But in reality, they rarely stop a determined burglar on their own. A camera records footage, an alarm makes noise, and a light flickers on — yet none of these put a physical barrier between a thief and your possessions. Modern thieves know all too well that a quick, skilful and determined ‘job’ means they can be in and out of a premises long before the Police can attend or the owner can confront them.
Paul Warner is an industry expert and the founder of Safeguard Security, the UK’s market leader in security grilles since 1996. He explains:
“Time and time again, we visit homes and businesses where CCTV cameras recorded the entry and alarms were sounding but were ignored, and the burglars still forced entry and got away. These tech systems are great for providing evidence after the event, but they don’t stop the crime in the first place. That is the harsh reality people realise too late.”
When criminals know police response is slow, the deterrent effect of alarms and cameras diminishes further. They take the risk, knowing they have the time advantage.
The Scale of the Threat: Why Tens of Thousands of Burglaries Persist
With over 160,000 recorded residential burglaries in 2024 alone and broader totals surpassing 200,000 incidents annually, you may be surprised to read that only a tiny fraction lead to criminal charges — just 3.5% in England and Wales.
For homeowners, this means prized possessions, jewellery, cash, and heirlooms gone forever. For business owners, the consequences include stolen stock, money, or valuables, disruption to trade, scared staff and customers, damage to reputation, and soaring insurance premiums.
And because so few cases end with a resolution, the cycle continues. Criminals see little consequence. This is why it’s critical to move from reactive to preventive measures to protect your property.
Physical Deterrents That Don’t Sacrifice Aesthetics
The truth is that only a physical barrier truly halts a burglar. Yet traditional solutions — such as roller shutters and fixed bars — often look prison-like, or make a shop or commercial premises appear as if it’s under threat or in a rundown area of a city or town. Furthermore, those types of barriers present fire risks, potentially trapping staff or family members in an emergency.
Roller shutters and fixed bars send a clear message: “keep out.” But they also create a negative perception for both homes and businesses. For retailers, a shuttered façade makes a shop look closed and uninviting. For homeowners, heavy bars ruin the appeal and risk lowering property value.
However, there is a trusted solution with retractable security grilles that are discreet, strong and safe. They are:
- Retractable and easy to fold away during the day
- Designed with aesthetics in mind, blending with interiors and façades
- Built with fire-safe release mechanisms to guarantee emergency exits
- Strong enough to resist forced entry, making burglary attempts futile.
Retractable security door and window grilles change the equation. Stowed away when not needed, they maintain the architectural appeal of a storefront or living room window. When deployed, they provide the strength and resilience to stop intruders. In short, with security grilles you don’t have to choose between safety, style and practicality. You can have all three.
Coupling Security Tech and Security Grilles for the Ultimate Burglary Solution
The strongest approach is not to ignore security technology, but to pair it with a physical barrier. Imagine this scenario:
- Motion detectors or glass-break sensors can trigger an initial alarm
- The burglar is either deterred by or confronted with having to break into a physical barrier that, even if they think they can get past, will seriously slow them down, or leave them very visible in the street whilst they try to get in
- Meanwhile, cameras record the attempt, evidence is captured, and the criminals know the theft is high risk.
This is the synergy between smart tech and absolute security, or as Paul Warner puts it:
“Security grilles stop burglars in their tracks. They look great, they’re fire-safe, they’re great value, and they’re easy to fit. When combined with alarms or CCTV, you get the ultimate solution — a visual deterrence backed by physical resistance.”
Peace of Mind – Reevaluating What Real Security Looks Like
At the heart of this security is peace of mind. Homeowners don’t just want gadgets; they want to know their family is safe. Business owners don’t just want flashing lights; they want to protect stock, staff and reputation.
That’s why security must be reframed. Instead of treating cameras and alarms as the solution, we must see them as tools that support the real solution: physical deterrence. When burglars know they cannot force entry, the incentive to even try disappears, even for professional and determined thieves.
Safeguard Security has been leading that conversation since 1996, pioneering retractable grilles that deliver both protection and elegance. For nearly three decades, the conclusion has always been the same: only a barrier that physically denies access truly works.
It’s time for homeowners and businesses to face the facts: nine-hour police delays and hundreds of thousands of burglaries every year make passive security solutions inadequate. Prevention is not about watching crime happen — it’s about ensuring it never happens in the first place.
For more information about how to effectively protect your home or business, visit safeguardsecurity.co.uk
