Burglary Statistics

What is considered household burglary? - Unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of a residence. This crime usually, but not always, involves theft. The illegal entry may be by force, such as breaking a window or slashing a screen, or may be without force by entering through an unlocked door or an open window. As long as the person entering has no legal right to be present in the structure a burglary has occurred. Furthermore, the structure need not be the house itself for a burglary to take place; illegal entry of a garage, shed, or any other structure on the premises also constitutes household burglary. If breaking and entering occurs in a hotel or vacation residence, it is still classified as a burglary for the household whose member or members were staying there at the time the entry occurred.

Most burglaries occur between 10 AM and 3PM (after most people leave for work and before kids get home from school)

The typical house burglar is a male teen-ager who lives within a couple of miles of your home. The chance of being victimized by a professional thief is low. Frequent entry points for home burglaries are windows and garage doors. If it takes more than a few minutes to pry open a door or window, the burglar often gives up.

Burglars spend an average of 8 to 12 minutes in your home. The master bedroom is usually the first place hit because most people keep their valuables there. Their favorite items to steal are: cash, jewelry, electronic equipment, silver, guns and other items that are easy to sell on the street or "hock" at a pawnshop.

FACTS

In the USA, a burglary occurs every 8 seconds.

On average, 1 out of every 6 homes will be burglarized this year.

Half of all burglaries take place without forced entry. In many cases the burglar used a "key".

One study showed that 12 percent of burglaries occurred through an unlocked door.

Homes without security systems are about 3 times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems. (Actual statistics range from 2.3 times to 3.1 times, depending on the value of the homes).

There are an estimated 2,329,9501 annual burglaries nationwide, with an annual loss by victims of approximately $3.1 billion.

A burglary takes place every 12 seconds and produces an average loss of $1,675 per event.

This year, one in six homes will be burglarized.1  Burglars will spend no longer than 1 minute to break into a home.

60% of residential burglaries occur during the daylight hours.

Figuring these statistics and approximately 2.8 million homes in Northern California, your rate of potentially being burglarized is approximately once every two weeks. 

	Keep the exterior of your home or business brightly lit at night. Burglars will be less likely to approach a well-lit area.
	Lock windows and outside doors whenever they're closed. Don't do the burglar's job for him. Ensure that all entries to your home or business are secured.
	Burglars will generally try to enter your house unseen, favoring rear doors, and particularly sliding doors that are usually left unlocked. Secure sliding glass doors with a dowel in the inside track.
	Never hide a key outside your house. Everyone thinks to look in the same place for a spare key (including the burglar), so don't leave keys above the door frame or under the doormat.
	Prune shrubs to keep them from concealing doors or windows. Stealth is the burglar's best friend, and the more you do to remove that advantage, the less likely you are to be a victim.
	When traveling, use timers to turn on lights at night and don't allow mail or newspapers to accumulate. A dark, empty home is a beacon to burglars, so try to give the appearance that someone is constantly at your home. Have neighbors collect your mail and newspapers.
	Arm your security system at night and every time you leave your home. The security system can't do anything unless you make sure to arm it, so make it a habit to set your alarm every time you leave, even if it's only for a few minutes.