Burglary Statistics

2023

In the United States, a burglary occurs every 51 seconds, so if you think you are safe, think again. According to the FBI, 619,811 burglaries happened in 2021 in the U.S. While these numbers might be scary, with security systems becoming increasingly available and affordable, protecting your home is easier than ever.

The Michael & Associates research team analyzed national data and compiled the following report. Using federal databases, the preceding is an examination of burglary trends and a holistic analysis of the darker side of American life. Through this report, we aim to arm you with knowledge about burglary and give you some tips and ideas on how you can help protect your family today.

Key Findings

In the United States, a burglary occurs every 51 seconds.
There were 619,811 burglary incidents reported in 2021, a decline of 31% from 2020.
Peru has the world's highest burglary rate: 2,086 per 100,000 people annually
Bangladesh has the lowest burglary rate: 1 per 100,000.
The police have solved only 11% of the cases, whereas the victimization reported reached 41.5%
In the next 20 years, a jaw-dropping 75% of all houses in the country will be broken into by a burglar.
When a report is made, 98.5% of victims state they personally know their thief.
In 2019, 55.7% of burglaries involved a forceful entry into the home, 37.8% were unlawful entries, and 6.4% were attempted forcible entries.

Topics Covered

Burglary vs. Robbery

Global Burglary Statistics

General Burglary Statistics

The Profile of an Average Burglar

Burglary Statistics By State

Burglary Prevention

Burglary vs. Robbery

While these two terms may appear similar, there are distinct differences between them.

Burglary involves unlawful entry into a building, whether or not anything is stolen. It is considered a crime against a structure, however odd that sounds.

Robbery involves taking belongings from a person with the threat or use of force. Robbery is a crime against a person.

Global Burglary Statistics

Unfortunately, no matter where you are in the world, you can be a victim of burglary. However, in some countries, this phenomenon happens more than in others. Below you can see the countries with the highest and lowest burglary rates worldwide.

Burglary rate per 100K people

General U.S. Burglary Statistics

The police have solved
only 11% of the cases

Victimization report reached 41.5%

51% of homes get burglarized again within four weeks of the original incident

While reports show that home burglaries are decreasing, the police have solved only 11% of the cases, whereas the victimization reported reach 41.5%. This allows 51% of homes to be burglarized again within four weeks of the original incident. For canny burglars, four weeks is commonly the period to successfully file an insurance claim and replace some of the homeowner’s stolen items.

Burglary is the second most common type of property crime after robbery—with approximately 1,700 burglaries happening daily in the United States.

Additionally, predictive analytics determined that in the next 20 years, a jaw-dropping 75% of all houses in the country will be burglarized, regardless of the neighborhood. However, there are always steps (which we will talk about later on) homeowners can take to secure their homes and, in doing so, minimize the risk.

While reports show that home burglaries are decreasing, the police have solved only 11% of the cases, whereas the victimization reported reached 41.5%. This allows 51% of homes to be burglarized again within four weeks of the original incident. For canny burglars, four weeks is commonly the period to successfully file an insurance claim and replace some of the homeowner’s stolen items.

The future of burglary

Burglary statistics over time

Burglary rates over the years

With people working from home during the pandemic, burglary numbers significantly decreased. There was a 31% decline in burglary cases in 2021 from 2020. Still, even before the pandemic, burglary rates had already been on the decline.

With everything returning to the previous state, so are the burglary rates. Major metropolitan crime reports also shed light on current trends. One of them, NYPD, reports an 8.9% increase in burglaries from 2021 to 2022.

Burglaries by time and location

Over half (53%) of burglaries occur in the afternoon with the most popular hours being 12 pm to 1 pm and 5 pm to 6 pm. And with the temperatures increasing during the summer, so do burglary cases, being 11% higher than in the winter.

Mapped areas of burglaries have determined that most burglars have been found to strike homes within a few miles of their residence, as 64.1% of burglaries affect residential properties. Nonetheless, both residential and nonresidential burglary victims lose an estimated $13.3 billion in personal property each year. Out of that, only 29% are recovered.

Though these numbers are alarming, the number of houses that still don’t have a home security system installed is surprising—75%. In 2019, these houses were 300% more likely to be burglarized.

Where do burglaries happen the most?

Characteristics of people more likely to be victims of burglary

Men are 15.5% more likely to be victims of burglary

Women are 80.26% more likely to get robbed than to rob

Adults (30-39) are the age group who experienced the most burglary.

White people are the most burglarized race.

How do burglaries happen?

In 2019, 55.7% of burglaries involved a forceful entry into the home, which means physical damage to personal property. Moreover, 37.8% were unlawful entries into the home, and 6.4% were attempted forcible entries.

Most frequent access points include

9% – the garage door

22% – the back door

2% – the second floor

81% – the first floor

9% – the basement

23% – the window

What are the most commonly stolen items?

When someone breaks into your home, they are willing to take practically anything. If something is valuable enough to have on hand, it makes sense for them to steal it. Only when an item’s resale value is lower than the risk of being captured, it becomes off-limits for others to steal.

Property stolen by value of property

Property stolen by percent recovered

The Profile of an Average Burglar

When you imagine a typical burglar, what comes to mind? Do you think of the masked bandit popularized in the media or someone closer to home?

According to data, when a report is made, 98.5% of victims state they personally know their thief. This means there’s a perfect chance your neighbor or acquaintance could attempt to rob you.

Moreover, the modern burglar adapts to technology, circumstance, and opportunity, so it’s important to be watchful in your neighborhood and surroundings.

Burglar’s gender

Male 80.30%

Female 19.70%

Burglar’s age

When it comes to the burglar’s age, data shows that the age group 20-29 and 30-39 has the highest percentage of offenders, comprising 29.2% and 30.82% respectively.

The next highest percentage of offenders is observed in the age group 10-19, which constitutes 13.3%.

As the age increases, the percentage of offenders decreases significantly. The age group 50-59 and above has the lowest percentage of offenders with 8.53% and below. These findings suggest that the age group of 20-39 are more likely to engage in criminal activity than any other age group.

Burglar’s race

0 0%

White

0 %

Black or African American

0 %

American Indian or Alaska Native

0 %

Asian

Burglary Statistics by State

In the U.S., rural states experience more burglaries than those with big urban hubs. While it is expected for New York and California to have more burglaries per capita, they’re actually near the bottom of the list. Let’s see which states have the highest burglary rates.

Burglary Rates By State

*- Limited data for 2021 were available for these states

Burglary Prevention

If burglars have an eye on a structure as a potential target, they will most likely case it. This means they observe and learn your work and sleep schedule, so they can break in at the perfect time and take your possessions.

In essence, while most citizens take adequate measures to protect their homes, many underestimate their safety requirements; it is vital to have a solid understanding of how these incidents happen in your area for you and your belongings to stay safe.

Stay off social media

Get insurance

Tend your garden

Install a home
security system

Upgrade your locks

Look for security vulnerabilities around your home

Hang a “Beware of Dog” sign

Keep the radio on

Purchase a safe

Most burglars will mark your home before breaking in. Marking a home happens when a thief places a mark or symbol (commonly in chalk, but also flyers) onto surfaces around your property—like the side of your garage, a mailbox post, a garden shed, or even the home itself. Be on the lookout for these markings and remove them promptly if found.

The Bottom Line

You may not be aware, but burglary is a risk to everybody, no matter where they live or what their house looks like, so taking as many steps as possible to lower that risk is essential. Consider looking into a home security system or a security camera to avoid getting broken into.

The above stats and figures may sound scary. Still, awareness is crucial to moving forward with a strategy. So, whether you apply one or all of the things you have learned today, doing so can save you a lot of hassle and despair. Stay safe!

Sources

Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Data Explorer (CDE)
Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
Alarms
ADT
SafeWise
Legaljobs
Reolink
Insurance
Budget Direct
Statista