When it comes to crime, the burglary statistics speak for themselves. And while burglary and robberies are both on the decline throughout the United States, they are still very much a massive issue.
There are many questions asked when it comes to a home invasion, and we are going to take a look at some burglary stats today that may shock you. You may find them alarming, but they may also help you out a little and improve your existing home security.
Let’s dive right in.
Fascinating Burglary Stats (Editor’s Pick)
- There are over 3,370 burglaries happening in the US every day.
- 51% of homes suffer a repeat burglary within one month.
- Only 23.9% of Americans have a security system in place.
- 34% of burglars make an entrance via the front door.
- In 2018, the United States recorded a burglary occurring every 25.7 seconds.
- By 2039, 75% of the homes in the United States will be broken into.
Burglary Statistics 2019
1. 7% of burglars carry a weapon.
While Hollywood would have us believe that all burglars carry guns and wear masks, this isn’t the case. It is important to note, though, that while this falls into house burglary statistics, the figure only covers people who burglarized without confrontation.
In cases where the burglar was confronted, this counts as home robbery statistics. While burglary and robbery are often used within the same context, they are, in fact, two very different things.
A burglary involves illegally gaining entrance to a property with the intention of stealing. A robbery, on the other hand, is when somebody steals property by using force or under the impression of impending force.
2. 51% of homes suffer a repeat burglary within a month.
One of the most astonishing home invasion statistics is that over half of all victims of burglary have to suffer the same fate within one month of the original crime.
It is important to remember that a burglar is going to be on foot, and there is only so much that they can carry by hand. On the first occasion, the burglar will generally be scoping the property to see what they can get on the second visit.
When we look closely at the break in statistics, we can also see that should a burglar not return to the same house, they will often target a neighbor’s property. So, if one of your neighbors has been the victim of a recent break in, now may be a good time to enhance your home security and update your alarm and security camera.
3. 65% of burglaries happen while you are at work.
One of the most common questions that crop up in regards to burglary facts is:
“What time of day do most burglaries occur?”
Despite the common misconception that all burglars are cat burglars who strike at night, a very large percentage of these occur during daylight hours.
According to FBI burglary statistics, 65% of all home invasions happen between 6 am and 6 pm. The most common hours are between 10 am and 3 pm. As time has moved on, burglars have become more sophisticated, and it’s more about careful planning than opportunism nowadays.
Burglars will often pay close attention to their victims’ patterns and movements and also those of their neighbors. Once a burglar has detected a pattern, they will use this to forward their opportunity to strike.
4. There are over 3,370 burglaries happening in the US every day.
If there is one figure that can instantly strike fear when we are looking at how many break ins occur each year, it’s this one.
The FBI has estimated around 1,230,149 burglaries occurred in 2018. Even though it’s a slight decrease compared to the year before, the burglary rate is still at a scary level.
Namely, 2018 has seen 11.9% fewer burglaries compared to 2017, and a fantastic decrease of 28.2% compared to 2014.
That’s five years of a terrific and positive trend in burglaries.
5. 66% of burglaries are residential.
Another one of those burglary facts that cannot go ignored is the amount of break ins that happen to residential properties.
In most cases, businesses have far more valuable items, but the business burglary statistics state that only one-third of all burglaries occur on business premises.
The general reason for this is more than likely down to security. The more complicated it is for a thief to gain entrance to a property, the more likely they are to avoid that property and target somewhere a little easier.
6. By 2039, 75% of the homes in the United States will be broken into.
There has been close monitoring of burglary trends over the last few years, and recent findings have been mind-boggling.
The latest tracking of burglary crimes in the US suggests that three out of four homes will fall victim to burglarization over the next twenty years. While the figures are scary, they can also make you realize that there is no better time than now to take your home security to the next level.
7. The average cost of a burglary is $2,500.
When we look closely at burglary stats 2019, we are greeted with a figure that is rather breathtaking.
We see that the average loss during a break in is around $2500, and this does not take into account the cost of property damage or repairs that may be required.
Now, while most people do not see the point in updating their security systems, it is clear that simply adding a few cameras and an alarm could save you money and a great deal of pain. The home security statistics speak for themselves and a few simple additions to act as a major deterrent to any potential home invader.
8. 65% of burglars know their victims.
One of the most amazing statistics to make the list is that should your home be burglarized, there is a significant possibility you may know the person who did it.
This stat is not only shocking:
It can be rather upsetting to find that somebody you like and trust could break into your home and steal from you.
9. Almost 250,000 robberies occur each year in the United States.
While burglary itself can leave you feeling violated, if you are a victim of a robbery, you will surely not be feeling like yourself for a while.
While the numbers are decreasing, when we look at how many robberies occur each year, the figures we see are still terrifying.
If we break them down, we see that there are a whopping 108,000 strong-arm attacks, 96,000 firearm attacks, and 40 thousand attacks using other weapons and knives.
10. 85% of burglaries are committed by amateurs.
Often when we think of burglars, we yet again go to the vision that we get from TV and the movies.
We expect to see sophistication, but what we are actually left with is somebody desperate. While most people would presume that a burglary carried out by an amateur is better than being targeted by a professional, it really is not.
What you have to realize about amateurs is that their desperation makes them violent and dangerous. Most burglars, according to burglary statistics, are addicts looking to feed a habit.
11. When the weather is warmer, burglary numbers increase.
A recent study that took place in Chicago managed to show that warmer weather plays a significant role in the amount of crime that takes place. The study went on to show that even on warmer days during the winter months, there was a boost in assaults, vehicle thefts, and burglaries.
A simple stat like this may explain why the most burglarized state in the US is New Mexico.
12. 34% of burglars make an entrance via the front door.
This statistic may seem unbelievable, but the truth is that some burglars will simply walk up to an unlocked door and make an entrance.
While this may sound ridiculous, there are some neighborhoods out there that offer a heightened sense of security, and people are not afraid to leave their doors unlocked.
What is important to remember is this:
No matter how safe you may think your neighborhood is, you should always keep your doors locked. While the front door is the number one point of access for most burglars, there are, of course, other entry points that need protecting.
So, let’s take a look at all of them.
The next most popular point of entry is the back door, and a whopping 22% of burglars will attempt to take this quieter route. Most people would automatically presume that the backdoor would be the most popular route of entry into the house. While it does not attract attention when it comes to gaining entrance, getting to the backdoor is where the problem lies.
Nowadays, most people have some form of security features at their front doors, such as a camera or a communicable doorbell. Burglars know this, which is what drives them to the back.
It may be hard to believable but 2% of burglars will attempt to gain entrance through the second floor. This can be quite a difficult task, but it’s something that some really don’t mind tackling.
The simple truth is:
Burglars know that people will very rarely have any form of second-floor security in their homes, as there is a false sense of security that comes with the upper floor of the home. This 2% figure should go to show that it’s definitely worth adding a little extra security upstairs, too.
Another area that people rarely add extra security to is windows. So, a huge 23% of burglars will attempt to gain entrance to your property through a window – and it doesn’t need to be open.
Key takeaway:
It is often worth checking the beading of your windows to ensure security. Glazed windows with external beading can be as appealing to a burglar as candy to a baby.
So by looking at the above-mentioned entry points, you can now add a little extra security to your home. This will not only give you peace of mind, but it will also help you add extra deterrents to any trespassing.
13. In 2018, the United States recorded a burglary occurring every 25.7 seconds.
Even though property crimes’ rate fell in 2018, there are still countless burglaries occurring in domestic households, property crimes statistics show.
Namely, this truly alarming statistic portrays an already growing concern among U.S. citizens. It means that two homes are subject to burglaries every minute of the day.
This further emphasizes the need for security systems in citizens’ homes.
Which brings us to the following burglary stats:
14. Only 23.9% of Americans have a security system in place.
In a 2018 survey, almost a quarter of all respondents aged 18 to 64, have stated they have installed and use security systems in their homes.
This means that three-quarters of United States citizens don’t have any home security in place.
People aged 18 to 29 have the lowest amount of security systems in place, with only 20,54% stating they own home security.
The highest number of security systems are recorded in the homes of individuals aged 30 to 49, with 28,23%.
Taking a look at the alarming burglary statistics of the amounts of burglaries that occur, it’s safe to say that the number of home security systems in place is not sufficient enough.
And this is supported by the study in the next stat:
15. Burglars will often avoid a house with alarms, CCTV, and dogs.
There has been a great deal of information obtained by reaching out to inmates that are currently serving time in jail for burglary.
A recent study by KGW news surveyed almost 100 inmates who agreed that home security and dogs would be certain factors in determining which houses to choose.
House alarms, CCTV, and dogs are all incredible at reducing your risk of being targeted by criminals. Car break ins statistics also show that when CCTV cameras are near, there is a lower chance of vehicles being stolen.
16. Only 13% of Burglaries are solved by the police.
While the long arm of the law is something to be feared, one highly disturbing fact is:
Most burglaries will actually go unsolved by the police.
This means, out of the average 3,370 daily burglaries reported to the police, only 438 are actually solved and criminals brought to justice.
This disturbing fact should encourage you to enhance your home security exponentially. By simply investing in a good alarm system, a good tamper-proof CCTV system, and having a security company come and give your home a penetration test, you will be doing all you can to reduce the risk of a break in.
17. The most commonly stolen item is cash.
Even today, in the age of technology, break in statistics show that a lot of people still keep cash in the house.
During the 8-10 minutes that a burglar will spend in your home, they will be rummaging to find anything of value they can fit into their pockets. The primary goal for any burglar is to find where you keep your cash. After this, they will be looking for jewelry.
Jewelry is easy for criminals to sell or trade, but if they can’t find any, they will start to look for technology, burglary statistics reveal. Any device they can carry, like a laptop and a phone, will be more than appealing to any thief.
Another popular set of items that people really don’t pay attention to is documents. So, keeping your personal information safe is vital. A burglar can easily take your information and commit identity theft with only a few documents.
A lot of burglary cases nowadays involve burglars opening credit accounts in their victim’s name and continuing to victimize the target for much longer than the initial break in.
To Conclude
While the burglary statistics above may appear scary, they could be the most useful piece of information you have when it comes to protecting your home.
Bottom line:
Home invasion may be a risk to everybody, but it’s incredibly important to take as many steps as you can to lower that risk. So whether you apply one or all of the things you have learned today, you may find that you can save yourself a lot of hassle and a great deal of heartache. Stay safe!
