A quarter of Londoners would not report a crime for fear it would harm their chances of selling or renting their property.

That’s according to research which also highlights that 22% of the capital’s residents would discourage neighbours from reporting crime to the police because it might appear on an online crime map damaging the desirability of their home for buyers or tenants. Londoners’ obsession with house values meant the figure was far higher than the national rate of just 8%.

The findings, from research carried out by Direct Line Home Insurance, found in the past 12 months one in six Londoners say they had failed to report a crime for fear it would show up in police crime details online. Of the respondents who admitted not reporting a crime, 65 per cent had ignored robberies and theft, and 62 per cent did not report vehicle crime.

The homeowners said they were worried that reporting crimes such as minor break-ins would make it more difficult to rent or sell their property or reduce its value.

“It is very alarming that crimes may be going unreported in the capital,” said Katie Lomas, head of Direct Line Home Insurance.

“London is in its own property bubble and with no real decline in sight, homeowners are concerned about doing anything that could hamper this rise in value or prevent a potential property sale or rental. Unfortunately this can include turning a blind eye to crime.”

But failing to report could make it impossible to claim for loss or damage on home insurance policies; without a police reference number to support the claim, the vast majority of insurers will refuse to pay out.

Higher crime figures already mean home insurance costs are sharply higher in London: the national average for a policy is £186 a year, but £280 in the capital.

And homeowners are correct in thinking a crime listing on the police’s database could hit future property purchases and rental values: online police maps are playing an increasingly important role in property purchase and rental decisions for those in the capital.

More than 60% of Londoners said they would check crime statistics for a prospective neighbourhood, compared with 50 per cent across the UK.

You can find out the details for your street or one you are considering buying or renting in at met.police.uk/crimefigures.

In London, two fifths of would-be buyers said they would insist paying less for a property if they found that crime stats in the area were high although the research also found that capital dwellers are more likely to accept high crime rates if the neighbourhood exhibits gentrifying features.