PEOPLE living in Redbridge are the most likely to be burgled in the country, new data has revealed.

According to figures from Money Super Market, if you have a Redbridge (IG4) postcode, you are more likely to file a burglary insurance claim than anyone else in the country, with a 54.74 per cent quote rate for every 1,000.

The price comparison site analysed 1.8 million home insurance quotes it gave people between January 2015 and December 2016 to produce the burglary rankings.

Unfortunately for people living in the borough, three of the top five UK burglary hotspots were in Redbridge.

Chadwell Heath and Little Heath (RM6) came third, with a 51.74 per cent quote rate, and Clayhall (IG5) ranked fifth.

Gants Hill and Newbury Park (IG2) also came in at 16th, with Barkingside and Hainault closely behind in 19th.

Chief Superintendent Jason Gwillim of the newly-merged East Area command unit for Havering, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham has assured residents that tackling burglary in Redbridge “remains a priority”.

He said: “We know that burglary is a potentially devastating crime for victims, resulting not only in physical loss but in some cases, leaving a lasting impact.

"With this in mind, burglary has been and remains a priority crime for Redbridge, Havering and Barking and Dagenham, with plans in place to not only tackle and reduce crime, but to prevent residents from becoming victims of crime.

“We urge Londoners to take action to safeguard their homes by following our simple crime prevention advice.

“By thinking like a burglar, and noticing and addressing where your home and possessions may be vulnerable, you can reduce the chances of it happening to you."

He added that Redbridge has seen 41 per cent decrease in residential burglaries since 2012.

Redbridge Council leader Cllr Jas Athwal added: “We would like to reassure residents that the Redbridge Safety Community Partnership is working hard to tackle burglary across the borough.

“Burglary is a top priority and hotspots are monitored and action taken to reduce burglaries in these areas.”

In the west of the borough, Woodford Green and Woodford Bridge (IG8) had a quote rate of 34.4 per cent, coming in at 42nd, while South Woodford (E18) was 111th with 27.93 per cent.

The E11 post code, which covers Wanstead, Snaresbrook and Leytonstone, was relatively low in the rankings at 167th, with Walthamstow even further down at 361st.

Heading across Waltham Forest to Chingford, the quote rate for burglaries was 37.27 per cent, which puts it and Highams Park 71st in the table.

People living in Epping Forest are fairly unlikely to have to file a claim for burglary, with Buckhurst Hill (IG9) ranking 244th in the table and Chigwell 146th.

Money Super Market’s consumer affairs expert Kevin Pratt said “busy urban areas” and “leafy suburbs” are both vulnerable to break ins.

He said: “Burglars are interested in two things: where should I go to find stuff worth stealing and where am I least likely to get caught?

“Burglary results in a double dose of trauma, with both emotional and financial repercussions taking a long-term toll on those affected.

“To avoid the turmoil, it's vital to be vigilant against break-ins and to bolster home security to prevent them in the first place.”