Security in high-rise buildings - higher than in lower floors?

[LetMeStraightenMyCrownFirst]

I have no experience of living in higher-floor flats besides Friends and other TV shows. I've always thought that burglars wouldn't pick flats on higher floors because it'd be more difficult to carry their loot back downstairs. Plus there'd be more chances of coming across someone.

Can anyone who does live, say, on the 8th/tenth floor and up share any knowledge they may have of this? I have no need for this information beyond that to satisfy my curiosity!

I used to live on the 27th floor of a high rise block of apartments in Canary Wharf, security was the same as any other apartment block with low levels I have ever lived in! I did feel very safe there though apart from when it was really windy

Read somewhere that burglars prefer top floors as less likely to be disturbed. Obviously not sure how true that is.

On US tv programmes the burglar is always targeting apartments via the fire escape.......

I think living in a flat is probably safer in some ways, especially as they are likely to be in more densely populated areas, which means there is less opportunity for the thief to break in without being disturbed, even just by passers by.

Additionally, some blocks have porters or door staff, or require a pass to get through an external gate.

Living up higher does also decrease the risk of someone walking by and smashing a window while drunk etc. which is probably more of a risk in densely populated areas.

I'd think the biggest risk in a bock of flats probably doesn't come from external parties though. If you're going to be robbed it'll probably be by someone who also lives in the building. They have more opportunity and are less likely to be challenged for being there etc.

I used to live on the top floor of a mid-rise block in London. I felt secure leaving my windows open at night and when I went out for the day, but not the windows anywhere near the fire-escape. My neighbour would occasionally lock herself out, but, rather than leave a spare key with me, she preferred to use the fire escape to cross from my flat to hers and then climb in through the tiny kitchen window (the one above the sideways opening one). She used to leave it open on purpose, because she didn't think any burglar would be as slender as her!

The police once came to my flat and asked to be let through so that they could access another flat via the fire escape. The front door of that flat was locked from the inside, the owner could not get in. Apparently this is a common burglar's tactic. (Turned out the owner's daughter has arrived from abroad on a surprise visit, and was sleeping off jet lag.)

It would have very easy for a burglar to get into the block, because some neighbours kept buzzing strangers in - despite frequent requests not to. It was obvious that, once in, a burglar would have plenty of time to work on getting through the front door of my flat.

We were warned to keep windows locked if we were below the 7th floor, as that was the highest that burglars had previously climbed up the outside of our block via the balconies.

I didn't fancy being the person who found out the hard way that the burglars could actually make it up to the 10th floor.

It must be lovely to be able to sleep with the windows wide open in the summer. I have French doors in my bedroom (first floor) but unless my OH is here I don't like having them open overnight. When it's been boiling hot though it would have been so pleasant!