Home Security Beat

12 Burglary Facts You Didn’t Know

When you watch the news and see a person burglarized or something else bad happen to them, it’s easy to sit back and think that won’t happen to me. However, it’s people just like you who get taken advantage of and burglarized. Why? It’s because you assume these things won’t happen to you, so you don’t prepare for the worst case scenario. Maybe these twelve facts from the FBI’s 2003 Crime in the United States Report will change your mind.

1. Even if a person doesn’t steal anything from your home, it’s still considered burglary since they entered your property without permission.
2. A person is burglarized every 15 minutes in America.
3. Instances of burglary often result in an average loss of $1,600.
4. Almost one third of all burglaries happen without using force, so the thief gained entry through an unlocked door or window.
5. More than half of burglaries in residential areas occur in the daytime. Also, 66 percent of all burglaries occur in residential locations.
6. Renters are more likely to have property stolen than homeowners.
7. Out of reported burglaries, only 13 percent are solved, and only 15 percent of the cases actually result in property recovery.
8. Almost 85 percent of thefts happen in large metropolitans.
9. More thefts occur in the South than in the Northeast, Midwest and West.
10. Most burglaries happen in July and August while people are vacationing.
11. About 70 percent of thieves are white and 86 percent are males.
12. If you’re home doesn’t have a security system, you’re two to three times more likely to experience a break in.

These facts might scare and surprise you, which is actually a good thing. Now is the perfect time than any to be more cautious and protect your family and property. Why not start by updating the locks on your doors or start a habitual routine during the day and evening to ensure all windows and doors are locked? If you can’t afford the security system, at least put up signs in your yard.

There are so many simple and inexpensive ways to make your home look less inviting to burglars. The main idea is to try and think like them, so you can determine what areas of your home and yard are less secure. You know your house better than anybody, but it helps to take an objective view of it to determine the weak points of entry and potential issues.

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Tags: burglary facts, burglary in the U.S., facts about burglary, FBI