Burglary statistics: What you and your clients should know

Good news! As Pennsylvania residents, you have a less likely chance of being a victim of a burglary than most other states.

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared. Burglaries still happen in the commonwealth, at the rate of 3.1 per 1,000 people, and some of the statistics from across the country may surprise you.

Across the U.S., there is a burglary every 20 seconds, according to a report from ADT. The security firm interviewed 400 convicted burglars to ask how, what and when.

While most people assume the majority of burglaries take place at night, in reality, the peak time is during the day, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and it’s more likely to be during the summer months. While the average burglary only takes 10 minutes, in 28 percent of cases, someone is home during the crime.

Most burglars reported they committed the act because of drugs (51 percent) or money (37.1 percent). A small percentage said they did it out of foolishness, for thrills or for revenge. Ninety percent of burglars were hoping to find cash, 77.8 percent said jewelry, 65.9 percent said illegal drugs, electronics were sought by 63.4 percent, followed by prescription drugs at 50.5 percent, and 18.4 percent said clothing or shoes. Most money found by burglars goes towards drugs at 62.4 percent, followed by living expenses and bills at 48.6 percent, and 35.1 percent said partying.

Renters are more likely to be victims, at the rate of 3.27 percent, compared to 1.83 percent of homeowners. Smaller apartment buildings, those with two to four units, are the most likely target, followed by apartment buildings with 5-9 units. Larger apartment buildings, with 10 or more units, are the least likely to be burglarized.