Home burglary statistics: facts that may surprise you

Burglary is one of the biggest concerns for citizens around the country. To take a realistic view of the situation, we have decided to analyze recent burglary statistics in collaboration with our partners.

"Home burglary" is the illegal breaking into a home with the intent to commit a crime. "Burglary" is one of those words that people often misuse when referring to "home invasion." Home invasion involves the use of intimidation and/or force during a break-in when there are people inside the house.

Frequency and volume

Burglaries are wildly common, with one occurring every 41 seconds. That means an average of three burglaries every minute or approximately 2,000 a day.

However, there is some good news concerning home intrusions and burglaries. While approximately 80% of Americans believe that crime is on the rise, property crimes have fallen between 68% and 87% in 30 years. There were only 745,895 cases last year, marking an all-time low.

The human factor

Even though burglary has gone down, it is still what scares Americans most when it comes to property crimes. Burglaries scare people even more than auto theft and internet fraud.

This fear seems reasonable since home invasion statistics clearly show that individuals between 30 and 40 are more vulnerable to burglary than any other age group. Within the last ten years, 20% of all burglaries were committed against people aged 30 to 40. Individuals younger than 20 and older than 40 also often fall victim to burglary. The crime becomes highly unlikely among people over 50.

Average losses and property damage

The financial and emotional impact of burglary is excruciating. We have found some interesting facts about burglaries.

First, burglaries are costly. A typical burglary may result in losses of about $6,000 worth of property theft. The above amount is on the lower side, as the findings obtained in 2024 show losses of almost $8,000.

Then, costs from burglaries have increased. Damage now costs five times as much as it did in 2000. And electronics and valuables are not the only things you lose. About half of all the victims have lost items that cannot be replaced (sentimental value, etc.). In addition, 67% of all victims feel that their mental health condition worsens after the burglary. Often, people face sleep problems after that.

Violence during burglaries is rare. About 47% of burglars damage property, but 53% enter through unlocked windows or doors without using force, just to steal your belongings.

Renters vs. owners: who is more affected?

Your home determines your level of vulnerability to crime to some extent. Thieves often target renters rather than homeowners. But now, this difference is not as significant: renters made up 28% of victims in 2024, while it was 27% for homeowners.

Although the difference between these two demographics is gradually narrowing, there still exists a "security gap." About 51% of renters have worries about their safety and security.

Nevertheless, homeowners are almost three times more likely than tenants to have installed an alarm system at their residence. The reasons for this are usually associated with security myths, as many people think that they have no choice but to go without any protection because of their rental contracts. Yet today's technological progress proves that it is possible to secure your apartment without any damage or repairs.

Time and seasons

At what time do most robberies occur at night? There's a bit of controversy. Movies lead audiences to believe late-night hours are favored for burglaries. The opposite is true for nearly all neighborhoods. Almost all residential burglaries take place during the daytime, typically between 10 a․m․ and 4 p․m․, when homes are likely to be empty due to residents being away at work or at school.

Burglaries are also seasonal. The warmer it gets, the more likely they are to occur, and burglaries are about 10% more common during the summer months. June is often the month when they are most prevalent, and February is when they happen the least.

Location and security

Your region also affects the likelihood of being burgled. There is a common belief that cities like Los Angeles and New York have the most burglaries, but this is actually not true, as they have some of the lowest rates. Most burglaries occur in rural states, with New Mexico being the most.

Regardless of your location, security is a good deterrent. We see that about 60% of convicted burglars, when interviewed, said they would not target homes with visible security systems. The reason is that predictable risk is not appealing.

How to protect yourself

While no one can guarantee complete safety, you can take steps to make your home a less attractive target.

• Upgrade your door locks and make sure your windows are locked. Almost half of burglaries occur through unprotected entry points.
• Check your landscape. Trim bushes and trees around your house so they do not offer cover to someone trying to break a window.
• Think carefully before posting online. Never reveal anything about your upcoming vacation on any social media.

Professional monitoring is one of the most important things. You can get a smart security system with 24/7 monitoring and feel maximally protected.

FAQ

Prevention matters

Burglary rates may be falling, but prevention is important at all times. A few smart security steps today will make your home a less attractive target tomorrow. Protect your home before someone attempts to break in!