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Facts About Burglaries Burglary
is the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft. A person can be convicted of burglary even if nothing
was actually stolen. A burglary occurs approximately every 15 seconds in the
United States. On average, a burglary results in a dollar loss of about $1,600.
About 30 percent of all burglaries are classified as "unlawful entry,"
meaning the burglar was able to gain entry without using force — often through an unlocked door or window. Nearly 66 percent of all burglaries are residential, and of those, 62 percent occur during
the daytime. Most burglaries occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., when no one is likely to be at home. Renters are more likely to be the victims of property crime than homeowners. Only 13 percent of reported burglaries are solved, or "cleared," by the police. Only about 15 percent of property stolen in burglaries is recovered by the police. Nearly 85 percent of all burglaries occur in large metropolitan areas. Almost
half of the nation's reported burglaries occur in the South: 45 percent, as opposed to the Northeast's 11, the Midwest's 20
and the West's 24. The highest percentage of burglaries occur during the summer
months of July and August, when many people are away from their homes on vacation, or have left windows open for ventilation.
Arrest records reported to the FBI indicate that approximately 70 percent of
all burglary arrestees are white and 86 percent are male. About 30 percent of
private homes have security systems. Homes without security systems are two to three times more likely to be broken into.  |
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Helpful Hints For Prevention
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