Home burglary is a fairly common crime that happens more often than many people would think, as the latest burglary statistics reveal.
In essence, while the majority of citizens take adequate measures to protect their homes, many underestimate their safety requirements; it is vital to have a solid understanding of how these incidents happen in your area in order for both you and your belongings to stay safe.
The following stats reveal just how prevalent burglary and home invasions are in the US and around the world. Come take a look!
Fascinating Home Invasion Statistics (Editor’s Choice):
- 65% of burglars are already well-acquainted with the people they rob.
- Only 12% of home invasions are planned in advance.
- New Mexico has the highest burglary rate with 767.8 burglaries per 100,000 people.
- There are almost three burglaries every minute in the US.
- 85% of home invasions are not conducted by professional burglars.
- 62% of burglaries happen during daylight hours.
- 88% of burglars may be robbing to support their drug habit.
- Burglaries in the US have dropped by 37% since 2008.
Home Burglary Statistics
1. On average, there are some 2.5 million burglaries occurring every year.
Stats reveal that there are around 2.5 million burglaries happening each year, 66% of which are home break-ins. However, the number of these has been steadily decreasing over the past decade.
Source: Alarms.org
2. Only 12% of home invasions are planned in advance.
Yes, you read that right — most burglars aren’t prepared! A survey of burglars by the University of North Carolina found that almost half of all respondents (41%) said they acted on the “spur of the moment,” as opposed to only 12% that said their actions were premeditated. The remaining 37% gave a mixed response.
Source: Science Daily
3. House break-ins, on average, last less than 10 minutes.
The average home invasion lasts between 8 to 10 minutes, with some as quick as 90 seconds! Burglars have to be quick, which means they can’t be picky about what they snatch. Usually, burglars aim to grab cash, electronics, prescription drugs, or jewelry.
Source: Protect Your Home
4. As many as 88% of burglars engage in robbery to support their ongoing drug habit.
A survey from the University of North Carolina on home robbery statistics found that more than half (51%) of home invaders robbed houses because they needed cash to buy drugs. A further 37% said they robbed primarily for the money, although many admitted this money would eventually be used to buy drugs.
Source: University of North Carolina
5. Only 22% of burglars take notice of a neighborhood watch sign when selecting a target.
Despite its popularity, burglars are not deterred by neighborhood watch programs. Break-in statistics reveals that only 22% of burglars consider a neighborhood watch sign as a deterrent when selecting a property to rob.
Source: 24/7 Home Security
6. Burglaries in the US have dropped by 37% since 2008.
Crime statistics from the FBI indicate a decrease of a whopping 37% in the number of burglaries since 2008; this trend is true across the US. Additionally, statistics also show that burglaries on residential properties account for 67.2% of all burglary offenses.
Source: FBI
7. Only 7% of home burglaries involve violence.
A State of the USA report found that 7% of these (on average) resort to violence on a yearly basis; though, only a few (12%) burglars had used a firearm. The most common type of violence present in burglaries is a simple assault, with 36% of cases resulting in only minor injuries and psychological trauma.
Source: State of the USA
Home Security Statistics
8. Only 17% of US homes have a security system.
Only 17% of US citizens have security systems in their homes, despite the fact that such systems can cost as little as $10 per month.
Source: Deep Sentinel
9. Burglars are three times more likely to target properties that don’t use a security system.
Research has found that homes without a security system increase their chances of experiencing a home invasion than those with a security system in place. In fact, most burglars immediately move on (to another house) if a home has a security system. In the case that the burglary occurs despite the security system being in place, the next best investment is proper home insurance.
Source: Reolink
10. Almost two-thirds (65%) of burglars are already well-acquainted with the people they rob.
That’s right, a 2010 special report from the DoJ found that an incredible 65% of home invasion victims knew the offender beforehand, and 34% were relatives or well-known acquaintances!
One of the biggest home security mistakes that people make is giving keys to non-residents, with many thefts being committed by ex-partners from former relationships, according to burglary statistics.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
11. In a survey of convicted burglars, only 34% of respondents said that a barking dog would deter them from breaking into a property.
Despite what many may think, most burglars are not scared of barking dogs. A barking dog was one of the lowest-rated deterrents, below camera surveillance, a car in the driveway, or even just nearby traffic.
Source: 24/7 Home Security
12. The vast majority (85%) of home invasions are not conducted by professional burglars, home invasion statistics reveal.
Research has found that most burglaries are committed by non-professionals — hence why they often result in unexpected circumstances. Burglars may attack out of fear or desperation if faced with the chance of being caught. Never engage with a burglar if you catch one in your home!
Source: Alarms.org
13. Almost two-thirds of burglaries happen during daylight hours.
If you’ve been asking yourself at what time do most break-ins occur? Research from DCSI Security has found that 62% of all burglaries happen during daylight hours; between 6 AM and 6 PM to be exact. Furthermore, there is little evidence to suggest that leaving a light on at night helps deter burglars; in some cases, it might even help them see better!
Source: DCSI Security
14. Summer is the most common season for burglaries to take place.
A US Department of Justice report on burglary statistics showed that, over a seven-year period, burglary rates were highest during the summer; winter had 11% lower burglary rates, followed by spring (9%) and fall (6%), respectively. This is most likely due to the number of people who go on holiday during the summer.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
15. Over one third (34%) of burglars enter a property through the front door.
A property’s front is the weakest link in your home defense, home break-in statistics reveal. When combined with back-door break-ins (22%), we find that over half of break-ins occur via doorways. Another 23% gain access through a ground-floor window, whereas a further 9% get in through the garage.
Source: Reolink
16. Almost half (48%) of all burglars say they would bypass a home if they heard a noise coming from inside.
A survey conducted by 24/7 Security reveals that noise inside a house is one of the best deterrents. Other top deterrents include people being inside the house (60%), and an officer being nearby (55%).
Source: 24/7 Security
Home Invasion Statistics by State
17. New Hampshire has the lowest burglary rate at 136.2 per 100,000 people.
The state of New Hampshire is the safest state in the US, according to data from Statista. New York state ranks as second safest with 159.3 burglaries per 100,000 citizens, and Virginia comes in third with 182.8.
Source: Statista
18. New Mexico has the highest rate with 767.8 burglaries per 100,000 people.
According to home burglary statistics 2018, the citizens of this state are most likely to fall prey to burglary. Mississippi is second-worst with 697.8 burglaries per 100,000 citizens and Oklahoma ranks third with 681.1.
Source: Statista
19. 8 out of 10 states with the highest burglary rates are in the South.
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, as well as South and North Carolina, are all on the list of top ten states with the highest number of home invasions per year. The only other states on this list are Washington and Nevada; both are in the West.
Source: A Secure Life
20. 9 out of 10 states with the lowest burglary rates are on the East Coast.
New York, New Hampshire, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey are all on the list of top ten states with the lowest rate of burglary. Wyoming is the only state on this list that’s not on the East Coast.
Source: A Secure Life
FBI Burglary Statistics
21. Once every 26 seconds, a house gets burgled somewhere in the US.
This is a very alarming statistic that the FBI recently revealed. House burglary has increased over the years and a home burglary occurs once every 26 seconds in the US. Every homeowner must stay vigilant and take preventive measures if they want to avoid being part of this statistic and see their house burgled.
There are 2 or more burglaries occurring in the US every minute summing up to 3,300 burglary strikes per day. A large number by any standard, which indicates no state, city or town is safe from burglars and home break-ins.
22. The average loss from a burglary is $2,799.
Analysis of these home invasion statistics from the FBI revealed that in 2018 alone, victims of burglary offenses in the US suffered estimated property losses of $3.4 billion. This means, on average, a burglary costs $2,799 in loss to its victims.
23. Over 60% of respondents said they have the highest concern about someone breaking in when there’s no one at home, and 58% fear a break-in when they’re sleeping.
According to a survey, home break-ins hold the top spot for being the most feared property crime. More than 60% of respondents were highly concerned about break-ins in their empty homes, while 58% feared home break-ins while they slept at night.
Considering the FBI home burglary statistics, these concerns seem completely natural and objective.
24. FBI burglary data from 2018 showed that 51% of all reported burglaries occurred in the daytime compared to 32% at night.
Many people are rightfully concerned with questions like do burglars break-in at night or what time do most break-ins occur in the US? According to the FBI burglary data from 2018, 51% of all reported burglaries occurred in the daytime compared to 32% at night.
This data may seem surprising to some but it indicates that most burglars prefer conducting a home robbery in empty homes during the day. This is also the case in some states, where there are increased penalties if the burgled residence is occupied or a resident gets injured during the burglary.
25. The highest amount of burglaries takes place in June at 11.3%. March and April have the next-highest numbers of burglaries with 10.3% and 10.9%, respectively.
Surveys showed that more homes were burglarized in June than in any other month of any given year. 11.3% of burglaries were experienced in June, while 10.9% in April and 10.3% in March.
This indicates that American residents are more likely to experience burglaries in these months than any other months of the year. This could be due to spring break in March and summer break in June, which is when many families leave their homes for vacation.
26. Victims of burglary incur $2,416 in losses on average.
The average dollar loss per burglary offense was $2,416. Overall, the US suffers $3.4 billion worth of losses from burglary offenses annually.
Source: FBI
27. There are almost three burglaries every minute in the US.
A burglary happens approximately every 22.6 seconds in the US, according to FBI home invasion statistics 2017. This increases to every 4.1 seconds when larceny and car theft are also included.
Source: FBI
28. More than a third (36.2%) of all burglaries occur due to unlawful entry.
A third of burglaries are the result of unlawful entry — in other words when the offender illegally gains entry without using force. On the other hand, the number of houses broken into sits at around 57.5%.
Source: FBI
29. Burglary accounts for only 17.1% of all property crimes.
The same FBI report revealed that larceny-theft — the act of unlawfully taking something from someone (usually property or possessions) — accounted for 72.5% of all property crimes in 2018. In addition, burglary and motor vehicle theft accounted for 17.1% and 10.4%, respectively.
Source: FBI
Car Break-Ins Statistics
30. Motor vehicle theft is the only property crime that continues to rise every year.
While the decrease in house invasions has been somewhat impressive, we cannot say the same for car break-ins. Reports show that the estimated rate of motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants is 237.4. In 2017 alone, the total number of such thefts reached over 770,000 nationwide.
Source: SDM Magazine
31. Most auto burglaries occur during the night.
Yet another difference in house and auto burglaries is the time of the burglars’ attack. While house break-ins typically happen during the daylight, auto thefts occur at night while the car is parked outside the victim’s house. Stats show that some burglars also target cars in parking lots since they know owners may be gone for a long while; especially so when they’re working, taking a class, or going shopping.
Source: Wilton Manors
32. Parking a car in the driveway can actually help deter burglars, burglary facts reveal.
If you’re going on vacation and you don’t need to bring your car, parking it in your driveway is a smart move to make it look like someone is home. Just don’t forget to lock the doors, roll the windows up and engage the alarm. If you’re going to use the car, you can offer the driveway as a temporary parking spot to your neighbor.
Source: Your Best Digs
How to protect your home from burglary?
Stay off social media
Updating social media with pictures and locations immediately upon arriving at destinations during vacation or day trips is an increasingly dangerous trend. Smart burglars can get this information and use it to their benefit.
These social media updates can increase the chances of home invasion and people should refrain from updating their whereabouts immediately. Ideally, staying off social media is the best solution, or you could wait to update social media with this information once you return home.
Get insurance.
Think of how many robberies happen a day. Getting renters insurance or homeowners insurance that covers theft and burglaries at your residence is an excellent way to avoid experiencing monitory loss in case of a burglary. You can find suitable coverage at decent rates by researching home insurance companies in your area.
Tend your garden. Believe it or not, landscaping can play a role in keeping out the burglars.
Landscaping can definitely play a major role in keeping out the thieves and you should keep trees and shrubs trimmed at all times to prevent them from becoming hiding spots for potential burglars.
If you leave your home for a long period of time or while on vacation, make sure someone is tending your garden in your absence. This will give the idea that someone is home to any observing burglars.
Install a home security system.
Installing a home security system is one of the best ways to keep burglars away or even help catch them in case they break into your home. Modern smart home security systems are increasingly effective and can be managed remotely from anywhere.
Additionally, installing a home security system can get you up to 20% off on your insurance costs, depending on your insurer’s discount policies. Insurance companies offer various discounts on upgrading your home security as an incentive to lower the risk of monitory loss.
Upgrade your locks
Another effective security measure to prevent home invasions is to upgrade your locks. Old locks, especially ones preinstalled in homes you move into, are a security threat because you never know who might have an extra set of keys.
Upgrading locks can prevent any old keys from being used to break into your home and there are plenty of modern locks available in the market that are much better than preinstalled old locks anyway.
Modern locks make manually unlocking them and breaking them in more difficult, even for veteran burglars.
Shore up weaknesses. Look for security vulnerabilities around your home.
It is always an excellent practice to regularly look for security vulnerabilities around your home. If you have any broken windows, non-functioning locks, hiding spots in your yard, or anything that can help burglars break-in, you need to identify and rectify them.
Bottom Line
I’m sure you found at least some of these burglary statistics surprising. Nevertheless, before stressing out too much, take note that these have seen a significant decline over the past decade.
Overall, the US saw a decrease of 54% and 69% between 1993 and 2018. What’s more, this complements the overall trend of crime reduction in the US over the past two decades.
