17+ Worrying Burglary Statistics That You Need To Know in 2024

While violent crimes are more commonly reported in news media, property crime shouldn’t be swept under the rug. Unfortunately, burglaries remain grossly underreported. Only one in three of these crimes are reported to authorities

Home invasions remain one of the top property crime concerns among citizens. Over a million home burglaries occur on average each year. Moreover, the US had 271.1 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2021.

While its numbers have decreased over the past few years, people should still be cautious. Here are the top picks for the most alarming burglary statistics and figures. 

Burglary Statistics Overview for 2023

Although burglaries have not increased in a while, they’re still surprisingly common. Thankfully, with the rise of innovations for home security, there are now ways to incorporate tech into your homes.

By 2024, the overall annual spending for home security devices will reach $35 billion. Investing in a trustworthy home security service is recommended for the safety of your family and property in case of an unexpected home break-in. 

Here are some of the latest numbers to get the gist of current burglary figures.

1. On average, 2.5 million burglaries occur annually in the United States.

(The Zebra)

Over 2 million robberies happen every year in the US. Of these, 66% are break-ins. Unfortunately, 87% of all reported cases never get solved because of a lack of witnesses or physical evidence.

These numbers translate to around 6,850 housebreaking cases daily or nearly 10 per minute.       

2. More burglaries happen during the day than at night. 

(Calder Security)

Most burglaries happen during the day between 10 am and 3 pm. While the cover of darkness gives criminals a degree of security, most still prefer the daytime, when people are likely to be out of the house for work or school.

Aside from that, daytime routines are also more predictable. A few days of snooping by an experienced burglar can give them enough information about household schedules.

Another reason is that it’s less suspicious to approach a house in broad daylight. It’s easier for burglars to make up an explanation. They can simply say they’re a salesperson or were hired by the household.

3. February has the lowest number of home invasion cases.

(Alarms.org)

Generally, there are fewer housebreaking cases during the winter. Most likely, snow and cold temperatures act as deterrents. Daylight is also shorter during winter.

Since February tends to be the coldest month in most parts of the country, it comes as no surprise that it is also the month with the lowest housebreaking rates.    

4. The average amount lost due to burglary is $2,800.

(The Zebra) 

Collectively, victims of US burglaries have lost over $3 billion. On average, this equates to a $2,800 loss for each offense. While jewelry, cash, and smaller electronics are prime property for burglars to steal, other hot items include:

• Medicines
• Keys
• Guns
• Designer items
• Personal information
• Alcohol

Many of these items can fetch quite a lot of money when sold in local pawnshops, small stores, bars, gas stations due to their resale value. Most burglars don’t keep the things they still. They usually get rid of them within 24 hours.

5. You are most likely to be violently burglarized by someone you already know.

(U.S. Bureau of Justice)

Based on home robbery statistics, most victims (65.5%) of violent housebreaking stated that the offender was someone they already knew. Familiarity can help a burglar know the layout of a house and where valuable items are stored.

Moreover, since the person they’re stealing from knows them, they are less likely to rouse suspicion. In contrast, in non-violent burglaries, only 30% of victims knew the offender's identity.

If you suspect someone you know is showing behavioral red flags for burglars, you can check out some of the leading background-checking sites to investigate.

House Burglary Statistics

There are many factors involved in a burglary. Home invasions can be prompted by financial issues and motivated by easy income. Others are motivated by peer influence, weak regulations, and easy property access.

Furthermore, some people are more vulnerable than others. There's no other safer way to be protected from possible burglars than to get your home a reliable security system on top of being cautious of suspicious persons in your neighborhood. 

Here are some burglary statistics to help you determine if you're at risk:

6. Homes without a security system are 300% more likely to be burglarized.

(REO Link, Washtenaw County Office of the Sheriff)

Home invasion statistics show that a house without a security system is nearly 3 times more likely to be burglarized. Other factors at play could be the burglar’s familiarity and convenience of a location.

These can be houses that are:

• Near or in high crime areas
• Near major access routes
• On neighborhood outskirts
• Previously burglarized
• Near previously burglarized homes

Criminals will seek out and target unprotected homes, as there is far less risk of them being caught during or after the crime.

7. Less than 1 in 4 homes have a security system.

(Safe Wise)

Over half of the US households want their homes to have a smart security system. Not all can afford these, though. Only 17% of households have such a system installed. 

Despite the clear evidence showing that having a security system dramatically reduces the chances of home invasions, most American homes still don’t have one. 

8. 95% of home invasions are forceful entries.

 (The Zebra,  Washtenaw County Office of the Sheriff)             

Locking your house does little to protect your property. Most home invasions feature some form of forceful entry, be it breaking through a window, picking a lock, or forcing a door open by brute force. 

Occupancy is also a critical factor in home invasions. Most burglars tend not to target occupied houses. However, they are more likely to break into houses that are:

• Vacated for long periods of time
• Vacated during the day
• Occupied by new residents
• Without dogs

Most thieves use prevalent tools for break-ins, such as pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, and pry bars. What these items have in common is that they are practical, yet also easily concealable and hard to trace.

9. Over 50% of single parents are most at risk of a home invasion.

(U.S Bureau of Justice)

Single parents seem to be the most targeted group by criminals. Both male and female single parents reported the highest home invasion rate when they were not in the house: 58.7% and 54.1% out of 1000 households, respectively. 

Women were much more at risk when the household member was present than their male counterparts (22.2% vs. 13.7%). 

10. Poor households are 300% more likely to be robbed than others.

(U.S Bureau of Justice)

Contrary to the popular misconception that burglars tend to go for wealthy homes for their financial gains, poor households are targeted much more. 

Burglary statistics show that households with an annual income of less than $7,500 were 3 times more likely to be burglarized than those earning more.     

One possible reason criminals target poor households is that they prefer simpler houses to enter and leave unnoticed. Moreover, poorer households are likelier to have weaker entry points, such as doors and windows.

They avoid homes with obvious security system signs. 

11. You are almost twice as likely to be robbed if you rent rather than own a home.

(U.S Bureau of Justice)

The latest burglary statistics show that renters are at much greater risk than homeowners. However, the gap has been closing recently, likely due to renting becoming much more common. 

Burglars seek out accessible entrances, so these criminals frequently target apartments on the ground floor.

12. A thief takes less than 10 minutes to break into your home.

(Forbes) 

On average, a thief may break into a house in less than ten minutes. They typically target backdoors, where there are fewer witnesses. Once inside, it takes them between 8 and 12 minutes to get out.    

Burglars target households they can easily access so they can enter quickly, take what they need, and leave without being seen.

Home Invasion Statistics by State

Home invasion is one of the most common crimes in the US. Almost all states have reported cases of burglary and theft.  However, some states are just more commonly burglarized compared to others.

Southern states are significantly more prone to crimes. Around 40.9% of all violent crimes occur within this region. This prevalence is likely due to cultural norms, poverty, and weather within these states.

If you are wondering which is the safest state to live in, here's what the statistics say.

13. Texas has the highest rate of burglaries in the US in 2021.

(Finance Buzz) 

Texas easily tops the chart with a staggering 393 burglaries per 100,000 inhabitants. Though the number is high, it shows a 4.6% decline in burglary rates year over year.

Meanwhile, the state with the lowest rate of housebreaking is New Jersey, with a -1.55 burglary score.

The high crime rates in Texas are primarily due to poverty and unemployment. These problems plague numerous Texas cities, increasing crime as a result.

14. Rural states see more burglaries than their more urbanized counterparts.

(USDA and Science Direct)

One would expect high-density metropolitan hubs such as New York and California to suffer from higher home invasion rates. 

However, US government data shows that more rural states generally have more victims. Few people live in apartments, and a scattered, low-density populace means that response time from law enforcement agencies is slower.

Home Invasion Gun Statistics

The US is the most heavily armed country in the world regarding civilian gun ownership. Many Americans argue that they keep guns to protect themselves and their family, deter crime, and thwart it.

Let's see what the latest data indicates.

15. Guns at home are more likely to intimidate family members than thwart crime.

(Harvard University)

According to Harvard’s Injury Control Research Center, rather than protecting loved ones, guns at home tend to intimidate them. 

Another study found that using a gun for self-defense had little impact on reducing the likelihood of preventing injury or property loss compared to other forms of protective action.

In the case of home invasions, other weapon types were more likely to be used against intruders.

16. Countries with more household guns have higher rates of household break-ins.

(LA Times)

While gun owners might think their guns would be enough to keep thieves out, reports show that guns are prime possessions burglars want to take too.

Out of reports of self-protective actions by victims, 42% maced the offender, struggled, ran away, or called the authorities. Less than 1% of the incidents involved victims using a gun for self-defense.

Car Burglary Statistics

Cars are a desirable target for thieves. Stolen cars can be helpful for these criminals since they can use them as getaway vehicles or sell them quickly for a much-reduced price.

Moreover, cars can also be easily sold for parts. Tires, wheels, batteries, airbags, seats, and catalytic converters can easily be sold to anyone interested. Even registrations can be prime property, as they can be used to steal your identity or make duplicate keys.

Look what the car burglary statistics say.

17. Over 1 million cars were stolen in 2022.

(Insurance Information Institute)

In a recent National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) report, over 1 million vehicles were stolen in 2022. This shows a 7% increase from 2021, surpassing 1 million since 2008. 

California and Texas had the most reported stolen vehicles, and Illinois had the most significant growth, estimated at 35% between 2021 and 2022.

Criminals can use stolen cars as getaway cars, resell them, or chop them down for their valuable parts.

18. The Honda Civic is the most often stolen vehicle in the US. 

(Insurance Information Institute)

With 35,426 vehicles missing last year, the Honda Civic was the most commonly stolen vehicle in the country, according to burglary statistics, followed by the Honda Accord at 36,815. 

Honda cars are most likely targeted because of their excellent resale value and the prominent market for their parts, which are easy to resell on the black market.

Wrap-Up

Anyone can become a victim of burglary. However, you're not entirely helpless. A good home security camera, a reliable alarm system, and the best possible locks can increase your safety by a wide mile. 

These burglary crime statistics will keep you in the loop so you can be prepared and be reminded that although the crime rate is lower, burglars are still everywhere. People still need to be extra vigilant and take preventive measures.