HOMES in York are ten per cent more likely to be burgled than the average household nationwide, figures show.

In a list of the UK's burglary hot spots, compiled by insurers Endsleigh, York was 10.1 per cent above the national average.

But a more detailed look at the figures shows there has been a dramatic decrease in burglaries in the city in the last 12 months.

Endsleigh spokesman Tim Larden said: "York is mid-table and so represents a fairly normal burglary risk.

"But in recent years, York has seen dramatic decreases in the risk of being burgled. Using our statistics, you are now 47 per cent less likely to be burgled in York than one year ago.

"If this trend continues, it is possible that York could become one of the UK's safest places for burglary."

North Yorkshire Police spokesman Tony Lidgate said the survey only compared the frequency of burglary claims reported to the company, so the figures were not a "hard and fast fact".

He said: "Burglary in the York area continues to go down, but it remains very high on the police force's target list.

"One of our wishes is that individuals assist a little bit more in driving the burglars away, with things like burglar alarms, good locks and outside lighting.

"People will spend £200,000 on a house and £30,000 on a car, but begrudge spending a couple of hundred pounds on a burglar alarm that would protect them both.

"We aim to continue driving down burglary across the county."

The Evening Press reported last week how domestic burglaries in York dropped by three per cent from 1,117 to 1,084 - meaning 33 fewer victims - between April 1, 2005, and March 31, 2006.

The detection rate for this type of crime rose from 17 per cent to 24 per cent.

But non-domestic burglaries, from businesses, sheds and garages, went up by six per cent, from 1,595 to 1,702.

In North Yorkshire, domestic burglary fell 10.1 per cent to 2,626 from 2,921, and non-domestic burglary dropped 2.6 per cent to 4,710 from 4,837.

Nottingham was named the worst city in the country for break-ins, with almost 110 per cent more than the national average. Hull was the second worst, and Leeds third worst, with 88.5 per cent and 65.8 per cent respectively more burglaries than elsewhere in the UK.

Updated: 10:04 Wednesday, April 19, 2006