Many people are reluctant to install home security devices because they believe burglary is one of those things that only happens to someone else. The FBI thinks otherwise. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, there are over 2,222,000 burglaries in the United States each year. That is approximately one burglary every 14 seconds! Learning the facts will motivate you to take proactive measures to protect your home. The following facts come from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports:
Of burglaries, 61.2 percent involve forcible entry, 32.2 percent were unlawful entries without force, and 6.4 percent were forcible attempts that failed. Unlawful entries without force, such as walking through unlocked doors or windows, can be prevented by never leaving your doors unlocked, even during the daytime. Security alarms can be triggered even if the burglar uses a stolen house key to enter without the use of force. Forcible entries such as breaking or prying doors and windows occur twice as often. These type of entries can be prevented by using solid door locks and window security bars. Let’s take action and make the percentage of failed attempts skyrocket next year.
Burglaries in residential properties accounted for 70.3 percent of all offences. Of those, 62 percent occur during the daytime hours! Additionally 60 percent occur when the occupants are at home. This can be a shocking statistic, but it is true. Just use common sense, lock your doors and set your alarms even if you are just relaxing in the backyard.
High season for burglary are the months of July and August, coincidentally the same high season for vacationers. Be careful who you share your information with, not everyone in the world needs to know that your house is vacant and vulnerable. It is also a good idea to have a friend collect your mail and check on the house during your absence.
Only one out of three homes uses a security system. Homes without security systems are over twice as likely to get broken into. Taking security measures will always make your home look less of an appetizing target for a burglar. Ideally, the crook will be warded off by the signs of home defence and look for another target.
In a single year, robberies have cost over $4.6 billion in lost property. This averages to a loss of $2079 per offence. Only 13 percent of burglary cases are solved by the police, and so there are many successful criminals currently on the job and looking for an easy target.
See www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/offenses/property_crime/burglary.html
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