Facts and Stats

According to the FBI, by far the most common threat to our homes is burglary.

FBI statistics show a burglary takes place somewhere in the United States every 15 seconds.  Home burglaries accounted for more than 70% of all burglary offenses.

• Most break-ins occur during the daylight hours when people are at work or school.  
• The summer months of July and August have the highest rates of burglaries and February the fewest.
• Burglaries are committed most often by young males under 25 years old looking for small, expensive items that can be easily converted to cash
• Favorite items stolen in most burglaries include cash, jewelry, guns, laptop computers, cell phones and other small electronic devices.
• 70% of burglars use some amount of force to enter a dwelling, but prefer to gain easy access through an open door or window.
• In most jurisdictions police are able to clear less than 15% of all reported burglaries and these thieves are rarely caught in the act.

Home break-ins may seem like random acts, but as with most crimes, they tend to be crimes of opportunity. Burglars use a fairly simple selection process and choose the path of least resistance.

They look for unoccupied homes that give them the greatest amount of cover and easiest escape routes with the least likelihood of being caught. Following is a list of ways to minimize your risk and make your home unattractive to potential burglars