Home Burglary Statistics and Prevention

Your home should be the one place where the family feels safe. It should be your secure castle. Unfortunately, crimes like home burglary are robbing many Americans of their well being and peace of mind. Statistically, burglary accounts for nearly one-quarter of all property crimes committed. The estimated cost to victims last year exceeded $4.5 billion dollars. The average loss per offense totaled over $2000. Think your home is more susceptible to burglary at night? The majority of burglaries occur during the day. Only 42 percent of all burglaries took place after dark. Over 60 percent of all home burglaries involved forcible entry. The majority of all thieves gain entry through the front or back door. Every 15 seconds, a burglary is committed in the United States. Residential properties are much more likely than businesses to be victimized. Most burglaries are committed between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. The duration of these crimes is between 8 and 12 minutes on average. Homes without a security system are three times more likely to be the target of a burglary than homes with a security system. Once inside most thieves head straight for the master bedroom, as this is where families keep their most valuable possessions. The favorite items to steal include jewelry, cash, electronics, silver, gold and guns. Burglars are searching for homes that look to be unoccupied. If you’re planning to be gone for a while have a neighbor park their car in your drive way. Either stop your newspaper and mail delivery or have someone pick it up daily. One of the best deterrents is a dog or at least the appearance of a dog. An electronic barking dog alarm senses movement outside your doors or windows and activates the alarm which sounds just like an aggressive barking dog. The profile of a typical house thief is a male teenager who lives in close proximity to your home. His goal is to get in and out. Time is of the essence; he has about 5 to 7 minutes to find the prize. One of the best things you can do is to invest in some hidden diversion safes. They look just like everyday household items but have hidden compartments built in to stash your valuables. A 7-UP can, household cleaner, or popular book all make great hidden safes. Remember you're not dealing with "rocket scientists" you can out smart these people!