Staggering 73 percent of Brits believe that crime is on the increase in their area

More than half of Britons (52 percent) are living in fear of crime in their neighbourhood, according to a new report.

A nation-wide study into perceptions and experiences of crime in the UK, has revealed a staggering 73 percent of Brits believe that crime is on the increase in their area.

The findings come just weeks after the latest ONS crime statistics showed a 22 percent rise in vehicle theft, a 29 percent increase in robbery offences and an 8 percent rise in burglaries.

And according to the independent report of 2,000 Brits by Budget Insurance, in the last 12 months – more than one in ten (14 percent) have had their vehicle vandalised, while 13 percent have had their house broken into and 12 percent have had their car broken into.

More worryingly, 42 percent of those who said they had been affected by some form of crime DID NOT report it to the police, with 30 percent saying the damage was so small they didn’t think it was worth reporting.

Almost three in ten (28 percent) thought the police wouldn’t be able to do anything to help, while a resigned 17 percent said they didn’t think they would ever get their things back so there was no point reporting it.

A more despondent 62 percent think the police simply don’t have enough resources at their disposal but are doing their best under difficult circumstances.