There are 2.5 million burglaries annually in the United States, according to the United States Department of Justice yearly data, with over half of these being home invasions. In fact, a new burglary happens every 26 seconds.
Burglary is a very specific crime that involves a person making an unlawful entry into a structure with the intent to commit a separate felony or theft. The crime is frequently referred to as “breaking and entering,” although the entry into a structure does not need to be physically violent.
The following stats reveal just how widespread burglary and home invasions are in the US. Come take a look!
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
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
The average home invasion lasts between 8 to 10 minutes, with some as quick as 90 seconds! Burglars have to be quick, so they can’t be picky about what they snatch. Usually, burglars aim to grab cash, electronics, or jewelry.
Source: Protect Your Home
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
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
Locking your house does little to protect your property from a home invasion, burglary statistics show. Most home invasions feature some form of forceful entry, be it breaking through a window, picking a lock, or forcing a door open by brute force. The majority of thieves use prevalent tools for break-ins such as pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, and crowbars – effective yet also easily concealable and hard to trace.
Source: Alarms
Home break-in statistics reveal that a property’s front is the weakest link in your home defense. 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
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 seeing 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 indicates no state, city or town is safe from burglars and home break-ins.
Source: FBI: UCR
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.
Source: FBI: UCR
One would expect high-density metropolitan hubs such as New York and California to suffer from higher home invasion rates.
However, United States burglary statistics actually show the most ruralized states generally have more victims. There aren’t many people living in apartments and a scattered low-density populace means that response time from law enforcement agencies is slow.
Source: USDA
There are many steps you can take to mitigate your risks of becoming a burglary victim. The most common and reliable methods are securing your property around the perimeter, replacing ground floor windows and doors with burglary-resistant doors and windows, and adding security cameras and alarms.
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch via the website. If you would like a free quotation for a project contact us via email: info@armored-doors.com and we’ll be happy to get you pricing.