Most Burglaries Occur in Daytime

House burglars like to think they’re cunning and unpredictable; the sly foxes of the criminal world. The reality is that the majority of burglars are not all that smart. They succeed because too many of us are unfamiliar with their predicable habits. The more you know about the patterns and techniques of an average burglar, the better equipped you become at preventing a break in. For example, do you know when most burglaries occur in the US? What about the most common method of break in used? The more you understand these things the easier it is for you to take necessary precautions. Knowledge is the only way to protect your loved ones, secure your property and safeguard your valuables.

In this video, the presenter looks at window security. They show how specially treated windows can help to stop opportunistic burglars from breaking in to your home.

Think Like a Burglar Thinks

You don’t have to become a burglar to be able to think like one. Contrary to what a lot of us think, the average burglar is not someone dressed in black and wearing a ski mask. Nor do they sneak around at night when everyone is fast asleep in bed. These types do exist but they’re not typical, not by a long way. Most burglars want an easy job. That means easy access, lots of natural light and minimal risk. From this, you’ve probably worked out that your home is most vulnerable during the day, when no one is in. Over 65 percent of all house break-ins in the US occur between the hours of 6am to 6pm during the summer months.^[1]

OK, so now we’re thinking like a burglar. We want daylight, unoccupied properties and easy access. And let’s face it, how many of us leave an upstairs or back window open when we’re out during the hottest months of the year. Sometimes we might just forget to close the windows; other times we leave them open to allow fresh air to circulate while we’re out. It’s too cold to even think about opening the windows in the midst of winter, which is another reason why burglars prefer the summer months.

Here are a few other quick facts that will get you into the burglar mindset:

60 percent of break-ins are forced (check the strength of your doors and windows)
30 percent of burglars get in via unlocked doors or windows
33 percent of burglars access homes through the front door
28 percent of break-ins occur when at least one occupant is home
Most burglars look for home security (cameras, lighting, alarms, etc.) before choosing their property
The majority of opportunistic burglars avoid homes with good visible security presence
Burglaries of residential homes account for around 73 percent of all break-ins.^[2]

Now that you have a better insight of the ‘burglar mindset,’ you should be able to take better care of your security precautions. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) suggests that we all strive to make our homes much less burglar-friendly. Although each property is different, there are common things we can do to improve security. Thinking how a burglar thinks is a great place to start.^[3]

Resources

Mark Bickmore

Hi, my name is Mark Bickmore. I'm an Engineer, who has a keen interest in home security and keeping my family, property and valuables safe from burglars. This website was set up to help me explore the research, facts and myths about burglars and burglary. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions, comments or suggestions.