Overall, the chances of being a victim of burglary range from 1 in 14 to 1 in 943 across the top 50 cities in the country, which is quite a significant range!
Almost half of robbery victims were under 25 years of age. Victims in the three youngest age groups, 12-15, 16- 19, and 20-24, had essentially the same robbery rate, which was substantially higher than ra tes for persons in older age groups. As people aged they were less likely to be victimized.
Answer: A break-in occurs every 26 seconds in the US. This adds up to 2.5 million break-ins every year, with more than half of those burglaries occurring in homes. For comparison, there were only 64 shark attacks in 2019.
65% of people who've been burglarized know the burglar. No one wants to imagine a scenario where they are being burglarized, and we wouldn't wish home burglary on anyone. What's more, the majority of burglaries were committed by people who knew their victims, according to a 2020 SafeAtLast report.
Rather than being guarded by night, most burglars choose the daytime to attempt a break-in, targeting homes when they believe no one will be present.
Here's how you can tell if a burglar is watching your house: The same unfamiliar vehicle hanging around over the course of several days, either frequently driving by your place, or parked nearby. Unfamiliar individuals walking back and forth on your street or back alley. Anyone taking photos of your home or property.
Don't chase or follow the robber. Let the police catch the robber. Call 911!
After the robbery, go immediately to a safe location, then report the crime. Your personal safety is your top priority. Make sure you feel secure before you call 911 or DPS. If you're in an isolated area, move to an area with people and ask someone to stay with you while you wait for help.
Fortunately, unlike movies, most burglars are looking to steal your belongings, not harm you. It's still pretty terrifying, though, to wake up in the middle of the night and realize someone else is in your house—and one can't exactly read a burglar's mind or know his or her intentions.
Offenders were armed with a firearm in 23% of burglaries in households (73,000 on average) burglarized by a stranger where violence occurred (table 19).
Deadliest hour
It turns out that many murders happen after midnight and into the wee hours. Crimeinamerica.com, which analyzes federal and state criminality data, concluded after reviewing 2018 FBI data that the deadliest time of day is midnight-1:00 a.m. Homicide figures stayed relatively high until 3 a.m.
Thieves Tend to Break In Between 10 AM and 3 PM
Movie after movie depicts thieves sneaking into houses under the cover of darkness. But, as noted in When Do Most Burglaries Occur?
Most “burglars” just want to break into your home, find something of value and get out as quickly as they can. In fact, the timeframe within which a burglary is committed is between 90 seconds and 12 minutes, according to the FBI! But the typical commission time is between 8 and 10 minutes.
Front door: 34% of burglars twist the doorknob and walk right in. First-floor windows: 23% use a first-floor open window to break into your home. Back door: 22% come in through the back door. Garage doors: 9% gain entrance through the garage.
Some people steal as a means to survive due to economic hardship. Others simply enjoy the rush of stealing, or steal to fill an emotional or physical void in their lives. Stealing may be caused by jealousy, low self-esteem, or peer-pressure. Social issues like feeling excluded or overlooked can also cause stealing.
Try not to judge the person or challenge them about how/why the crime occurred. Reassure him/her that they are not to blame for what happened. Be patient, listen carefully and allow emotional responses to happen. The most important thing you need to do is just be there.
They often pick a house by surveilling the neighborhood and finding the one with the most predictable patterns of when people come and go. They also look for properties in more rural or isolated parts of the neighborhood, and houses that are well maintained or have fancy cars in the driveway.
Hint: Your master bedroom is the first stop. There are many vulnerable spots in your home. Most people keep valuables in their bedrooms, so no surprise that is the first stop for a thief.
Not only is having a bunch of flyers or stickers stuck in your door a nuisance, it can also serve as a way for burglars to mark your home. Many burglars will stick flyers or stickers on homes that they think are unoccupied to serve as an indicator for their accomplices that the home is unguarded.
It also helps explain why so many burglars urinate and defecate in homes they are robbing. Walsh's sources said it was a combination of drink, fear and physical exercise and a reluctance to risk being trapped in a small room such as a toilet.
Being alone, even in a usually comforting place like home, can result in severe anxiety for people with this condition. People with autophobia feel they need another person or other people around in order to feel safe. Even when a person with autophobia knows they're physically safe, they may live in fear of: burglars.
The fear of intruders is called Scelerophobia, it is derived from the Latin word “Scelero” meaning wickedness or crime, and phobo which means fear or deep dread.