There are more than 2.2 million burglaries per year in the United States, and 70 percent of those are home burglaries (according to: SecurAmerica, LLC).
If this information alarms you, read on to learn about what areas of your home are most likely to be broken into, the most popular time for burglaries to occur, the most common point of entry into a burglarized home, the profile of a typical burglar, and the amount of time a burglar spends in your home.
Knowing these items can help you protect some of your precious valuables and your home. Having a surveillance security system will make you feel safer.
Most Common Home Break-In Areas
Knowing these vulnerable spots can help you prevent theft of your valuables while keeping yourself and your loved ones safe from unwanted intruders.
Front Door: 34% of the Time
Yes, you read that correctly. Burglars most often walk through the front door. A burglar will often check the front door first because residents tend to leave extra keys under doormats, in planters, or in fake rocks.
What to Do: Never leave extra keys in “special” hiding places, because burglars know where to look for them. Remember, many burglars are professionals at breaking into homes, so don’t think you can fool them.
It’s also a good idea to install a strong, durable deadbolt, because criminals may try kicking open a locked door when you’re not home.
First-Floor Windows: 23% of the Time
As their second choice besides breaking in through your front door, burglars often use first-floor windows to enter your residence.
What to Do: Don’t leave windows partly open thinking that it will deter a burglar from entering your home, because it won’t.
Sometimes criminals use brute force to break through, so it’s advisable to always shut your windows completely and lock them. Additionally, use window sensors or glass break sensors, so you can be alerted to any tampering or intrusion.
Back Door: 22% of the Time
Most burglaries happen between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (the hours most people are at work or school), which means a burglar can simply walk into your backyard without having to worry if you or your neighbors are home watching.
What to Do: Once you’ve locked the front door and first-floor windows, make sure you also lock the back door. Installing perimeter cameras on your property is also a great way to capture criminals or unwanted guests on video; plus, burglars often keep away from houses with visible security cameras.
Garage: 9% of the Time
All too often, homeowners remember to secure every part of their home except for the garage. Burglars love these people.
What to Do: Other than ensuring your garage door is closed and locked, make sure to change the garage-door opener code from the manufacturer’s default code.
Most new openers have a factory-set code that is meant to be changed after installation. If you don’t immediately change the code, you’ll run the risk of having a burglar drive down your street with various brands of remote controls, searching for garage doors that will open.
Adding a garage door sensor is another great way to keep tabs on when your garage door is unexpectedly opened.
Other Areas Burglars Break Into Homes
Burglars also break into homes through unlocked storage areas (6% of the time), the basement (4% of the time), and second-floor windows (2% of the time).
Even though these statistics are low compared to the areas listed above, you’ll still want to secure these areas just as well.
What to Do: Make sure bushes are trimmed back so that there are fewer places for criminals to hide. Cut off any tree limbs that are near or next to second-floor windows, because burglars are often unafraid to climb up trees and use their branches to enter your house.
And finally, place home security warning signs throughout your property, whether you have a security system installed or now.
Most popular time for a burglar to strike
The most common time for a burglary to take place is between 10 am and 3 pm. Of course, burglaries can take place at any time of day, but this is the most common time frame.
This is shocking to most people because it’s stereotyped that criminals tend to work at night to keep hidden. But if you think about it, it makes sense to target a home between 10 am and 3 pm because most homeowners are away from the home either at work or running errands.
What’s the average time a burglar spends in a home?
The most important thing for a burglar (besides stealing your belongings) is the in and out time. It needs to be as smooth as possible and as quick as possible with little hassle. The average time a burglar spends in a home is 8-12 minutes.
(Sources: SecurAmerica, LLC; Washington Post: Anatomy of a Burglary).
