Do you feel safe in your home?

By Warren Gamble

Almost three-quarters of the population are worried about becoming victims of crime in the place they should feel the safest – home.

A New Zealand Herald-DigiPoll survey reveals just over 70 per cent of us are very concerned or quite concerned about being burgled or attacked in our homes.

The poll of 633 adults found only 28.2 per cent were unconcerned at the prospect. Of the 70.3 per cent who were worried, 28.5 per cent said they were very concerned and 41.8 per cent were quite concerned.

The survey was taken during the high-profile spate of violent home invasions that included the murder on November 30 of dairy farmer Beverly Bouma – shot as four men ransacked her Reporoa home.

Three days later, an Ohakune family were tied up in their home by three armed men.

On Monday, a Kumeu woman in her late 70s was gagged, tied up and had a knife pressed to her stomach as two men ransacked her house. Early yesterday a Tauranga family were terrorised by two intruders.

In the poll, upper North Islanders, older people and those on lower incomes recorded the highest levels of concern about burglary or attack.

People in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty were the most worried, with 35 per cent saying they were very concerned, followed by those in Auckland (30.2), Hawkes Bay, Manawatu and Wairarapa (28.9), Christchurch (26.4), Northland (21.7) and the rest of the South Island (19.5).

Almost a third, 30.9 per cent, of those aged over 40 were very concerned, compared with 25.7 per cent of those aged 18 to 39.

Nearly half, 46.1 per cent, of those with annual household incomes of $19,000 to $28,000 were very concerned , compared with 24.8 per cent of those with household incomes of more than $67,000.

There was little difference between men and women who were very concerned, but more men (31), than women (25.4) were unconcerned about their home security.

Among ethnic groups, Pacific Islanders (38.9) and Maori (30.8) were very concerned about burglary or attack, compared with 27.6 per cent of New Zealand Europeans.

A third of Act supporters were very concerned in their homes, followed by Labour (31.7), Alliance and New Zealand First (25) and National (25.6).