Residents of a Birmingham suburb branded the UK's burglary hotspot are living in constant fear after a spate of traumatic break-ins, with thieves targeting everything from high-value jewellery to children's pocket money and slippers.
A Postcode Plagued by Crime
The B15 postcode, covering much of Edgbaston, has been ranked as having the highest number of burglaries in Britain. Data analysed by MoneySuperMarket revealed the area had 57.7 claims for every 1,000 home insurance quotes over the past four years.
Furthermore, West Midlands Police figures show a staggering 301 burglaries were reported in just 12 months, between October 2024 and September 2025. This equates to almost one reported break-in every single day.
Families' Lives Turned Upside Down
Two families have spoken out about the devastating impact of returning to ransacked homes, shattering their belief they lived in a safe, quiet area. In both cases, intruders tossed belongings across beds and floors during their searches.
One mother, a nurse, described how burglars struck while she and her daughter were at choir practice in November. The thieves stole her TV, work laptop, and some jewellery. In a callous act, they also took her young daughter's £60 in savings, her school bag, lunch box, trainers, and even her slippers.
"They left the school shoes and just took the rest of the trainers and the slippers," the mother said. "I feel like they must have children." The criminals also raided the kitchen, taking snacks, ice cream, lollies, and sweets.
Despite police arriving quickly, citing they were already in the area for other break-ins, the mother was left terrified ahead of Christmas 2025. "When I'm in my house at night... you just feel dread," she admitted.
Targeted for 'Asian Gold' While Grieving
In a separate, highly distressing incident, Mukul Rathore, 33, and his wife Anik Gupta, 31, were targeted while abroad for a family funeral. The couple had travelled to India in early August for the final rites of Mukul's father, Kamal Kishore Rathore, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
Upon their return, they found their Edgbaston apartment turned upside down. Thieves had prised open a window and stolen £12,000 worth of wedding jewellery. The couple believe they were deliberately tracked and targeted for what is often termed 'Asian gold'.
"People must have been noticing our patterns," Mukul stated. "They know that... people from Asian countries like India have the wedding jewellery, they keep it with them, so they knew they would find it."
The trauma was so severe that the couple, who have an 18-month-old son, swapped homes with a friend for a week because they felt too unsafe to stay. "We never thought it would be a concern," Mukul added. "Even now... we feel we still could be targeted."
A Community Living on Edge
These stories highlight a deep-seated insecurity plaguing the neighbourhood. The first mother summed up the helplessness felt by many: "If I had money, I would move, but where do you move to? It could happen anywhere."
The combination of brazen, frequent crimes—from stealing a child's ice cream to orchestrating high-value jewellery heists—has left residents of this Birmingham community questioning their safety daily, in an area they once considered a secure haven.
