A burglary takes place about every eighteen seconds in the United States. That adds up to nearly 200 per hour, and approximately 4,800 every day.

These are startling statistics, but they highlight the fact that burglary is a crime you need to be aware of. The good news is, the more you learn about burglary, the more effectively you can help protect your home and family.

Here are 10 surprising Home burglary stats and facts —and preventative tips—everyone concerned about home security should know.

1. Burglars tend to avoid homes with security systems.

Burglars are emboldened by the presence of a security system and will often target another home if they find one with an active alarm. This report from North Carolina reveals that 60% committed their crimes after identifying properties where such systems were present, suggesting this threat is serious enough for homeowners to consider installing anti-theft devices like motion sensors or window alarms as well!

Preventative Tip: Get a monitored home security system to help reduce the chance of being a burglary victim. Use the yard signs and window stickers you’re provided with to alert potential intruders to your security system. Make sure the signs and stickers are visible from every approach to your home—not just the front entrance.

2. Most burglaries take place between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The majority of burglaries happen during daylight hours. The reason for this is that people are at work or school, which reduces your chances as the homeowner to notice them entering into your home

The distribution in time frames between morning and evening break times can also play an important role when it comes down deciding whether you should be worried about being robbed or not

Preventative Tip: Install indoor and outdoor motion-activated home security cameras so you can check on your home throughout the day. Plus, you’ll receive an alert if the camera detects motion, so you can evaluate the situation immediately.

3. The majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby.

Burglars typically reside within two miles of their target home and know exactly when you’re not going to be around because they live close by. They may also check for signs that tell them if it’s okay or not such as flyers piling up at your door, or an un-mowed lawn which could mean there have been recent visitors coming over without notice during regular hours – this would make sense considering how often people leave trash cans sitting out on curbsides everywhere these days!

Preventative Tip: To help minimize the risk of a burglary, vary your routine as much as possible and have someone take care of your home when you’re out of town.

4. Most criminals can burglarize a home in less than ten minutes.

The average burglar can get what they want and leave in under ten minutes. They look for houses that are easy targets because this takes less time than it would to break into one with extra locks or security features such as an alarm system, surveillance cameras, etc., so most intruders don’t play around before making their escape!

Preventative Tip: Strengthen your home’s defense by getting a home security system, keeping all entrances closed and locked, and installing a high-quality front door. Then go a step further: join, or form, a neighborhood watch group and use a crime mapping website to keep up-to-date on local crime trends.

5. Almost 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window.

The number of burglars entering homes through an unlocked door or window is surprising. One in three cannot be bothered with creeping around the back, so they enter at a front-facing entranceway which makes them more likely targets for detection by residents!

The favorite spots for thieves when trying to break into your house are first-floor windows and doors—especially those that offer concealment behind overgrown vegetation.

Preventative Tip: Keep all entry points closed, locked, and alarmed, even when you’re at home. Make your home less appealing to intruders by keeping shrubs and trees trimmed back.

6. An astonishing 34% of burglars enter through the front door.

Theft and burglary are scars that never go away. Whether they walk through an open front door or kick in a locked one, there’s no shyness about what these criminals want: your stuff!

The best way to protect yourself is by taking preventative measures such as installing solid locks on all doors and making sure windows have secure locks too; if it isn’t possible for you to update them then at least change the passwords regularly so nobody can get into anything without permission first.

Preventative Tip: Keep your front door closed and locked at all times. If the door is worn or has a hollow core, replace it with a solid wood or metal door—they’re much harder to break down. To help further fortify your home against a burglar, use a quality knob-in-lock set with a heavy-duty deadbolt, mount a security camera or motion sensor light above the door, and install a smart doorbell. Never give your house key to workers or hide a key outside your home.

7. Burglars usually go to the master bedroom first.

The most valuable items in your home are often stored near the master bedroom. If you find yourself targeted for burglary, make sure that these precious pieces of yours are well hidden and out of reach before they become prizes on offer by criminals who know what’s up!

Unfortunately, most people don’t hide their valuable items carefully, and burglars know it. Once they break in, burglars head straight for the master bedroom, where they scavenge through dresser drawers and nightstands, look under mattresses, and search closets. Cash, jewelry, and weapons are some of the things a burglar wants most from your home.

Preventative Tip: Store your valuables in a safe that’s bolted to the floor, or hide them in unlikely locations.

8. The average property dollar loss per burglary is a staggering $2,251.

Burglars don’t mess around. They make off with your stuff, and you’re left feeling violated – not just financially but also emotionally; their crimes can leave deep scars that may never heal fully for some of us victims who have experienced this type of trauma at one point or another in our lives… The average price tag associated with residential burglaries? A whopping $2251! But these criminals aren’t only targeting homes- businesses lose an extraordinary amount of money too.

Preventative Tip: There’s a home security solution for almost every budget. You can get a basic home security plan for as little as $20 per month—advanced plans and upgraded equipment may cost more. Getting a monitored security system may also qualify you for a discount on your homeowner’s insurance policy.

9. Someone is home during nearly three out of every ten burglaries.

Coming home to find your material possessions stolen is frightening enough, but victims who are home when the burglary occurs experience even more trauma. According to a crime victimization survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, a household member is present during approximately 28% of burglaries, and 7% of these victims experienced some type of violent crime.

Preventative Tip: Make sure to arm your security system even when you’re at home. This will help keep you and anyone else in your home safe.

10. Only 13.6% of burglaries in 2014 resulted in arrests.

Burglaries are an unfortunate fact of life. When you’re the victim, it can be hard to find justice for your loss – even if the police manage to collar one in their investigation!

The rate at which arrests were made after burglaries in a 2014 survey was only 13% which resulted in charges filed against them. That’s not great news either considering how difficult these types of cases usually turn out when resolved…

Preventative Tip: Due to recent advances in home security solutions, more criminals can be caught on camera. For instance, by using a home security camera with a live video feed, a homeowner in Fairhaven, Massachusetts was able to see that two burglars were inside his home. He immediately contacted the police, and the men were arrested at the scene. As a homeowner, you can use a home security solution to put a stop to burglars.

Protecting your home from burglary does not have to be complicated or expensive. By being aware of these ten facts about burglaries, you can take simple, cost-effective steps to deter criminals and keep your family safe.

A security system is one of the most effective deterrents against break-ins, so if you don’t already have one, now is the time to invest in peace of mind. At FirstCall Security and Sound, we offer a variety of state-of-the-art security systems to meet the unique needs of your home and lifestyle.

Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you safeguard your property Against burglaries—and enjoy greater peace of mind in the process.