What Are the Odds of Your Property Being Burglarized?

Have you ever been out of the house and then suddenly have an intrusive thought enter your mind about your home? Maybe wondering if your pets are alight? Or worrying if you locked the front door before you rushed out? We have all been there, but most of us typically try to comfort ourselves by continuously repeating thoughts, like “Everything will be fine.” However, burglaries are more common than you may think, and what is actually considered a burglary anyway?

According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a burglary “is the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. To classify an offense as a burglary, the use of force to gain entry need not have occurred.”

We all have thoughts that make us worry about our families, pets and our home’s overall security. Unfortunately, we can never be 100 percent certain that a burglary will not happen, according to some recent facts and statistics. 

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Surprising Facts & Statistics 

We would venture to say that most of us assume burglaries occur in the dead of night by a shady character we have never met. However, if you take a peek at some of the collected facts and statistics below, you may be surprised by some of the data we discovered.

1. Most burglaries happen in the middle of the day
We know this may come as a surprise, but a break-in is actually more likely to happen during 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. This is mainly because burglars can walk around housing tracks and apartment complexes without appearing suspicious to residents. We were shocked to learn that only 17 percent of burglaries occur during the dim hours of the night.

2. Most burglaries occur during summer
The number of burglaries during summer rises about 10 percent! We thought about this one, and summer days are longer and it’s possible burglars thought about how the better weather could make for an easier getaway.

3. A burglary happens every 23 seconds
Yes, you read that correctly! Every 23 seconds. According to FBI crime statistics, there are approximately three burglaries every single minute. If you add that up, it’s about 3,757 burglaries in a single day.

4. Burglaries are decreasing in the U.S. due to available alarm systems
We saved the best news for last! Over the last few years, burglaries have dropped almost 40 percent. Most experts agree this is all due to the easy-to-use and affordable alarms systems that are now available to all homeowners and renters. 

​Could Someone You Know Be a Burglar? 

Another shocking fact we found is that burglars can often be people you already know. We are not trying to suggest that all your close friends and family members should not be trusted; however, we do recommend you reconsider who is allowed access to your home. Studies have shown that almost 50 percent of burglaries are completed by acquaintances.
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With how busy we all are, we tend to offer our keys to people we hire to do work at our homes in order to make things more convenient. This could be construction workers, house cleaners, piano teachers, dog sitters, etc. Acquaintances who have access to your home are the ones that have been found to be the most likely to target your house while you are away. This also includes neighbors. They know your address, they have probably seen some of your valuables inside and they have the time to plan where to break in and how to make a quick getaway. 

​What Are Burglars Looking For? 

One of the most targeted areas in your home are the bedrooms. We usually picture burglars lugging away large TVs and other bulky electronics from living rooms, but normally they slither up the stairs and head straight for the bedrooms. They scavenge for smaller items of value that can easily fit into their pockets in order to make a break for it as effortlessly as possible.
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These items may include jewelry, smaller electronics, weapons, prescription medications, cash, IDs and credits cards. Not exactly what you expected, hu? Most of us leave these items easily accessible, making them vulnerable for mid-day theft. 

How to Better Protect Your Home

The first and easiest way to protect your home is to have a security company install a monitored alarm system. This will ensure someone is watching over your loved ones, property and valuables at all times. If they detect anything fishy, the monitoring center will call you up and can dispatch the police if necessary. This is extremely important for families where both parents work. Their children are probably home alone after school and since we know that burglaries mainly occur during the afternoon, it’s important to know that children are home and safe. However, there are a few things you can do regularly to make your home less of a target for burglars.  

Dos and Don’ts

• Do lock all windows and doors
• Do shut all blinds and shutters
• Do install a monitored security system
• Do hide all your smaller valuables
• Do ID your valuables by engraving them

 

• Don’t tell acquaintances when you are not home
• Don’t hide a key outside
• Don’t leave bushes and grass unkempt
• Don’t let mail pile up

The biggest point we want to make though, is to be aware of who knows your schedule and who you let into your home. It’s very easy for a housekeeper, construction worker, neighbor and/or any other acquaintance to make a copy of your key after they have been given access to your home. If multiple acquaintances have access to your home when you are not there or know your daily routine, this can significantly higher your risk for a burglary.

To learn more about how to protect your home from theft, call Am-Tec Security at 800-609-2527.