20 Burglary Statistics in 2024: Facts About Home Invasion Crime
Posts by Kelly IndahMarch 12, 2024
Burglary and home invasion are serious crimes that can have a devastating impact on victims.
In the United States, there are an estimated 2.5 million burglaries each year, and about 1 in 10 homes will be burglarized at some point.
Home invasions are rarer, but they can be especially violent and traumatic.
Property crimes are more common in the United States than violent crimes.
Did you know that only one in three of all home invasions are reported to law enforcement?
Furthermore, home invasions are one of the top concerns among Americans today.
Despite the fact that this type of crime has declined in recent years, this is no time to be apathetic about it.
This article will provide you with some important burglary statistics about home invasion crime stats.
In addition, we’ll offer some tips on how to protect your home from these crimes.
Key Statistics
- An estimated 2.5 million burglaries occur in the United States every year.
- The average home invasion lasts between 8 and 10 minutes.
- Statistics show that 75% of home invasions occurred when there was no one at home.
- Houses with no security system are at 300% higher risk of being burglarized.
- Only 25% of Americans have a residential security system.
- The most common day for burglaries to occur is Sunday.
- Most home invasions occur between 10 am and 3 pm.
- Summer tends to be the season for home invasions.
- Cash is the number one motivation for theft.
- In violent home invasions, 65% of the burglars know their victims.
Burglary Statistics in 2024: Home Invasion Crime Stats
1. An Estimated 2.5 Million Burglaries Occur in The United States Every Year.
Even with a decrease in American home burglaries and invasions, an estimated 2.5 million burglaries still occur each year.
Of these burglaries, 165 million are categorized as home invasions.
They occur in the daytime and are calculated to happen every 30 seconds.
(Simply Insurance)
2. The Average Home Invasion Lasts Between 8 and 10 Minutes.
If 8 to 10 minutes seems like a small amount of time to you, it is. These criminals usually intend to get in and out before the alarm or neighbors alert the police.
Burglars also tend to break in where they will have the least resistance.
The best way to deter burglars is to have a home security system installed since they are not deterred by locked windows and or doors.
You should consider exterior cameras and motion detection lighting.
(Forbes Home)
3. Statistics Show that 75% of Home Invasions Occurred when There Was No One at Home.
Besides the fact that most home invasions occur during the day, 75% of the time no one is at home when they occur.
Thankfully, more home burglaries happen when no one is at home since burglars can be armed and things can be fatal.
In some cases where people are home, this is the case.
While no one should fall victim to a burglary, it’s better not to be at home if it happens.
(Tracy Press)
4. Houses with No Security System Are at 300% Higher Risk of Being Burglarized.
Research reveals that homes that don’t have a security system installed have a 300% higher risk of getting robbed.
In other words, that’s a 3 times higher risk of having your residence burglarized.
With so many homes with security systems now, criminals seek out those without a security system.
(TechJury)
5. Only 25% of Americans Have a Residential Security System.
Even with the fact that homes that don’t have a security system installed have a 3 times higher risk of being robbed, only 25% of Americans have a residential home security system.
We already know that 1.65 million American homes are robbed every year.
Why aren’t more homeowners installing home security systems?
(Simply Insurance)
6. The Most Common Day for Burglaries to Occur Is Sunday.
Most commonly, criminals seeking to steal break into homes during the weekdays, but Wednesdays are especially the most prominent for home invasions.
While burglars can strike any day at any time, research shows that most home invasions occur on Wednesdays.
(Decors for House)
7. Most Home Invasions Occur Between 10 Am and 3 pm.
Burglars favor the times between 10 o’clock in the morning to 3 o’clock in the afternoon to conduct their crimes.
That’s not to say they won’t do it any time of the day or night, but they prefer daytime while the kids are at school and the parents are working.
(Forbes Home)
8. Summer Tends to Be the Season for Home Invasions.
In terms of seasons, summer is the burglar’s best friend.
They prefer summer, due to people being on vacation, so no one is home.
These criminals will case or stalk the neighborhood and watch you come and go while trying to look for signs that you’re going on vacation.
Summer is followed by sinter in terms of break ins, while fall and spring are when they least occur.
(Policy Advice)
9. Cash Is the Number One Motivation for Theft.
Cash is the first and most common thing that burglars steal in a home invasion. It’s the easiest to find, it’s easy to conceal, and cash is untraceable.
Watches and jewelry are the second most common thing burglars steal, followed by electronics and medications.
They will also grab your designer clothing and accessories, keys, and your ID if they find it.
Burglars go into your home with specific intentions.
(Barry Bros Security)
10. In Violent Home Invasions, 65% of The Burglars Know Their Victims.
In violent burglaries, 65% of the criminals know their victims.
Only 28% of the time were burglars strangers to the victims.
Since the number one motivation for thieves is money, it’s easy to believe that they would rob people they know have it.
Sometimes, burglars even build a relationship with a neighbor to learn their habits and to see what they have with the intention to steal from them.
It’s devious, but it happens.
(BLS)
11. In Violent Burglaries, 48% of All Completed Incidents Occupants Were Injured.
Since burglars are more likely to do their business during the day when no one is home, injuries to occupants is less likely to occur.
However, in violent home invasions, household occupants are likely to suffer injuries during the burglary.
In an attempted forcible entry home invasion that figure is 8%.
(BLS)
12. 9% of Occupant Injuries in A Violent Burglary Resulted in Serious Injuries.
Serious injuries of household members occur 9% of the time during a burglary.
Minor injuries of occupants happened in 36% of violent crimes during a home invasion.
In most instances, 92%, when household members were home during a violent burglary no one was injured.
(BLS)
13. 34% of Burglars Use the Front Door to Enter a House.
In terms of burglars’ behaviors for getting into a house, 34% of them go right in through the front door.
Another 23% enter through a window on the ground floor of a house, and 22% use the back door.
Other ways they enter a home are through the garage (9%), via some unlocked entrance (4%), or some entrance on the second floor (2%).
(Reolink)
14. 48% of Burglars Will Forego Going Into a Home if They Hear Sound/noise from Inside.
A 24/7 Security study showed that if a burglar hears a noise or a sound come from inside the house, they are more likely to forego entry.
For instance, a dog barking.
Hearing a noise coming from inside a house is one of the top best deterrents to home invasions and robberies.
It’s also not unusual for a burglar to be deterred by people being at home (30%) or by nearby law enforcement (55%).
(24/7 Security)
15. 85% of Home Invasions Are Done by Amateur Burglars Not Professionals.
Statistics show that 85% of burglars that break into homes aren’t professionals.
In fact, they are amateurs, which can make them even more dangerous.
Since they are usually robbing homes out of desperation for money, this makes sense.
Therefore, most home invasions don’t involve experienced burglars.
(Alarms.org)
16. 12% of Home Invasions Involve Advanced Planning.
Burglars involved in a survey conducted by the University of North Carolina said only 12% of their “jobs’ were planned or premeditated.
Around half of the survey respondents said that their burglaries were perpetrated spontaneously.
Of the rest of the burglar responses, 37% were mixed.
(Science Daily)
17. On Average the Loss per Burglary Accounted for $2,416.
In 2017, the FBI reported the victims of burglaries in home invasions lost an average of $2,416 per burglary.
In terms of property losses, the estimated loss came to a total of $3.4 billion as of 2017.
(FBI)
18. 17.1% of Property Related Crimes Involved Burglary.
Of all property crimes in the United States, 17.1% were home invasion burglaries.
Overall, larceny made up 72.5% of all property crimes and 10.4% involved motor vehicle theft.
Overall, the FBI reported that the total losses to property crimes in 2018 came to $16.4 billion (USD).
(FBI 2018)
19. Only 7% of Burglars Carry Weapons.
When you watch movies and television shows in the crime genre, you see a lot of burglars carrying firearms of all kinds, knives, and other armory.
However, that’s not real life where only 7% of burglars actually carry a weapon of any kind.
(LegalJobs)
20. Repeat Burglaries Occur in 51% of Homes Within One Month.
It may seem odd that 51% of homes experience a repeat burglary within one month of the first one, but it happens.
Why? Because there are instances where burglars were in and out quickly (within 10 minutes), so they didn’t get everything they wanted, so they go back for more.
Alternatively, burglars may have seen something they wanted to go back and get.
(LegalJobs)
FAQs
What Are the Times of The Day that Most Home Invasions Occur?
Most home invasions and burglaries occur during the day when people are at work or school.
However, burglaries can also occur at night when people are asleep.
What Are the Days for Most Home Invasions or Burglaries to Occur?
The most common days for burglaries or home invasions are the weekdays when people are more apt to be gone.
Nevertheless, burglaries can also occur on the weekends.
What Months Are Common for Home Invasion Burglaries to Occur?
The most common months for home invasion burglaries are summer months, when people are most apt to be on vacation or away.
Consequently, burglaries or home invasions can happen anytime during any month of the year.
What Types of Property Are Most Stolen During Home Invasions or Burglaries?
Cash, jewelry, electronics, and firearms are the most commonly stolen property in home invasions.
That said, burglars will take anything they think they can sell or pawn.
What Weapons Are Most Often Used in Home Invasions?
Firearms and knives are most often used in home invasions or burglaries.
That doesn’t negate the fact that burglars will use any weapon they have nearby, including blunt objects, clubs, or even their bare hands.
How Can You Protect Your Home from Being Robbed?
The best ways to protect your home from burglary are to:
• Lock your doors and windows, even when you are home.
• Install a security system.
• Trim bushes and trees around your home so that burglars cannot hide.
• Keep valuables out of sight.
• Install motion-sensor lights.
• Be aware of your surroundings and report anything suspicious to the police.
The more you learn about burglary statistics related to home invasion crimes, the better you can prepare for it just in case. There’s nothing wrong with preparing for something that you don’t expect to happen, but that could happen.
Conclusion
Home invasion is a serious crime that can have a devastating impact on victims.
If you are ever the victim of a home invasion, it is important to remember that you are not alone.
There are many resources available to help you cope with the emotional and physical trauma of this crime.
Remember that you’re not alone.
There are many resources available to help you cope with the emotional and physical trauma of a home invasion.
By seeking help and taking care of yourself, you can start to heal and move on with your life.
By taking these steps, you can help to protect yourself and your family from home invasion.
We hope this article about burglary statistics: home invasion crime stats have been helpful to you.