According to a 2007 FBI Crime Statistics, 17.5 million property crimes took place with an average loss of property worth around $2,000. Historically, it has been found that when the economy is not doing well, there is a rise in property crime and burglaries.
The vast amount of these burglaries take place during the day generally when people are at work. Burglars search for homes that appear to be unoccupied and are able to spend no more that 60 seconds breaking into a home. The Washington Post breaks down the anatomy of a burglary in this graphic below.
Precautions You Can Take
A car in the driveway.
Motion-sensitive exterior lights, interior lights, radios and TV’s on timers.
Stop newspaper, mail delivery if you will be away from home for an extended period of time.
Have neighbors watch your home.
Deadbolt locks, bars on windows and pins in sash windows.
Clear shrubs and trees around your home.
Secure tool sheds and ladders
Homes with monitored security systems are 3 times less likely to be broken into or robbed than homes that do not have a security system.
