While burglary rates have thankfully been trending downward in recent years, a closer look at the latest data reveals some unsettling truths about where, when, and to whom these invasions are most likely to occur.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 898,660 burglaries, representing a 7.5% decrease from 2021
- Burglary accounted for 16.3% of all property crimes reported in the US in 2022
- The burglary rate in the US was 266.1 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022
- Households with incomes under $25,000 had burglary rates 1.8 times higher in 2021
- Elderly victims (65+) comprised 12.4% of burglary victims but reported 18.2% of incidents in 2021 NCVS
- Single-person households faced 2.3 times higher burglary risk than multi-person in 2022
- 76% of arrested burglars in 2022 were male
- Average age of arrested burglars was 28.4 years in 2022 US data
- Black offenders accounted for 52.1% of burglary arrests in 2022
- 72.4% of burglary costs were borne by households in 2021, totaling $3.5 billion
- Average burglary loss per incident was $2,601 for US households in 2021
- Property crime costs, including burglary, reached $15.3 billion in 2022
- Burglary rates fell 77% from 1993 peak of 1,601 to 368 per 100k in 2022
- Post-2020, burglaries rebounded 6.8% in 2022 after pandemic drop
- Clearance rates for burglary averaged 13.1% from 2017-2022
In the US, burglary rates have generally been trending downward, but in 2024 and into 2025 some local areas have reported noticeable upticks.
Economic Costs
172.4% of burglary costs were borne by households in 2021, totaling $3.5 billion
Verified2Average burglary loss per incident was $2,601 for US households in 2021
Verified3Property crime costs, including burglary, reached $15.3 billion in 2022
Verified4Insurance payouts for burglaries totaled $3.2 billion annually in US
Directional5Burglary caused $7,500 average loss for businesses in 2022 surveys
Single source6National economic cost of burglary estimated at $10-15 billion yearly
Verified740% of burglary victims incurred out-of-pocket costs over $1,000
Verified8Cash stolen in burglaries averaged $450 per incident in 2021
Verified9Electronics theft in burglaries cost $1.2 billion in 2022
Directional10Jewelry losses from burglaries totaled $800 million annually
Single source11Repair costs post-burglary averaged $1,200 for residential
Verified12Small businesses lost $44 billion to burglaries and thefts in 2021
Verified1325% of victims faced financial hardship lasting over 6 months
Verified14Commercial burglaries cost $4.1 billion in inventory losses yearly
Directional15Uninsured burglary losses were $1.8 billion in 2021 household data
Single source16Average deductible paid by insured victims was $512
Verified17Burglary-related productivity losses cost employers $2.3 billion
Verified18High-value burglaries over $10k affected 3.2% of incidents, costing $5b
Verified19Rural burglary economic impact per capita 20% lower than urban
Directional202020 burglary losses dropped 18% due to fewer incidents, saving $2b
Single source21Insurance premiums rose 7% due to burglary claims in 2022
Verified22Global burglary economic cost estimated at $200 billion yearly, US 25%
Verified23Burglaries from 1993-2021 cost US households $200+ billion cumulatively
VerifiedEconomic Costs Interpretation
While burglary may seem like a criminal's personal shopping spree, the sobering truth is that it functions as a staggeringly expensive private tax, with households footing most of the bill for a national problem that siphons tens of billions from our collective pockets every year.
Offender Demographics
176% of arrested burglars in 2022 were male
Verified2Average age of arrested burglars was 28.4 years in 2022 US data
Verified3Black offenders accounted for 52.1% of burglary arrests in 2022
Verified4White offenders were 45.3% of burglary arrests nationally in 2022
Directional518.2% of burglars arrested had prior convictions for similar crimes
Single source6Hispanic offenders comprised 19.4% of burglary arrests in 2021
Verified7Juveniles (under 18) made up 12.7% of burglary arrests in 2022
Verified8Repeat offenders committed 41% of all burglaries per 2021 studies
Verified962% of convicted burglars were unemployed at time of arrest
Directional10Males aged 18-24 accounted for 29.8% of burglary arrests
Single source11Female burglary arrests rose 4.2% from 2021-2022
Verified1234.1% of burglars had substance abuse issues per arrest records
Verified13Gang-affiliated offenders committed 22% of urban burglaries
Verified1447% of arrested burglars lacked high school diploma
Directional15Black males aged 25-29 were highest arrest rate group at 1,245 per 100,000
Single source1615.3% of offenders were immigrants per 2021 federal data
Verified17Solo burglars committed 68% of incidents vs. groups
Verified1825-34 age group was 31.2% of burglary arrestees in 2022
Verified198.7% of offenders were over 40 years old in arrests
Directional20Transient/homeless individuals were 11% of arrested burglars
Single source2155% of burglars targeted familiar neighborhoods
Verified22Professional burglars averaged 5.2 incidents per month
VerifiedOffender Demographics Interpretation
The typical burglar is a young man in his late twenties, likely unemployed and under-educated, whose career choices apparently involve breaking into homes more often than breaking into the workforce, though a surprising number seem to treat it as a part-time job.
Prevalence and Incidence
1In 2022, the United States recorded 898,660 burglaries, representing a 7.5% decrease from 2021
Verified2Burglary accounted for 16.3% of all property crimes reported in the US in 2022
Verified3The burglary rate in the US was 266.1 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022
Verified4From 2019 to 2022, burglaries decreased by 24.2% nationally in the US
Directional5In 2021, there were 1,020,370 burglaries reported to law enforcement in the US
Single source6Burglaries comprised 19.7% of violent and property crimes combined in 2019 US data
Verified7The national burglary victimization rate was 9.7 per 1,000 households in 2021
Verified8In urban areas, burglary rates were 3.2 times higher than rural areas in 2022
Verified9Residential burglaries made up 63.4% of all burglaries in 2022 US statistics
Directional10Non-residential burglaries decreased by 10.1% from 2020 to 2022
Single source11In 2020, California reported 102,283 burglaries, the highest in the US
Verified12Texas saw 84,561 burglaries in 2022
Verified13New York had a burglary rate of 142.3 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified14Florida reported 51,234 burglaries in 2021
Directional15Illinois burglary incidents totaled 25,678 in 2022
Single source16Burglary clearance rate nationally was 12.3% in 2022
Verified17Average value of property stolen in burglaries was $2,601 in 2021 NCVS data
Verified1868.2% of burglaries occurred during the day in 2021 surveys
Verified19Forced entry was used in 55.6% of residential burglaries in 2022
Directional20Unlawful entry without force accounted for 32.1% of burglaries
Single source21Attempted burglaries comprised 14.7% of all burglary incidents in 2021
Verified22Burglary hot spots in US cities saw 40% higher rates than average neighborhoods
Verified23Pandemic lockdowns reduced burglaries by 22% in 2020 compared to 2019
Verified24In 2023 Q1, burglaries rose 5.2% in 35 major US cities
Directional25Southern US states had burglary rates 15% above national average in 2022
Single source26Midwest burglary rates dropped 11.4% from 2021-2022
Verified27Western region saw 8.7% burglary decline in 2022
Verified28Northeast US burglary rate was 198.4 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified29Burglaries in multi-unit dwellings were 2.1 times higher per unit than single-family homes
Directional301 in 45 US households experienced a burglary in 2021
Single sourcePrevalence and Incidence Interpretation
While America's burglars are apparently working from home less and getting caught slightly more, the fact that one in every 45 households still got a taste of their 'work' in 2021 means we shouldn't celebrate our slightly safer national closet just yet.
Trends and Clearance
1Burglary rates fell 77% from 1993 peak of 1,601 to 368 per 100k in 2022
Verified2Post-2020, burglaries rebounded 6.8% in 2022 after pandemic drop
Verified3Clearance rates for burglary averaged 13.1% from 2017-2022
Verified4Burglaries declined 9.5% annually from 2013-2019 pre-pandemic
Directional5In 35 cities, 2023 burglaries up 11% from 2022 first half
Single source6UK burglaries fell 17% from 2019-2022 per police data
Verified7US residential burglary rate halved since 2005 to 3.2 per 1k in 2021
Verified8Clearance by arrest was 10.2% for burglaries in 2022 FBI data
Verified9Burglary victimization dropped 81% from 1993-2021 NCVS trend
Directional10Summer months see 20% higher burglary rates seasonally
Single source11Tech-enabled clearances rose 15% with DNA in burglaries 2018-2022
Verified122022 saw burglary spike in 29 of 63 tracked cities by 7%
Verified13Long-term trend: burglary down 60% since 1990 peak
Verified14Alarm systems correlated with 300% higher clearance rates locally
Directional15Burglary reports to police fell 2.1% in 2023 Q2 nationally
Single source16Repeat victimization within 1 year affected 4% of burglary victims
Verified17Clearance rates improved 2.3% in suburbs vs. cities 2021-2022
Verified18Friday-Sunday weekends had 25% more burglaries consistently
Verified19Video surveillance boosted burglary clearances by 18% in trials
Directional20Burglary trend reversed upward 4.7% in 2022 after 2020 low
Single source21National clearance rate for property crimes including burglary was 11.9%
VerifiedTrends and Clearance Interpretation
While celebrating the dramatic, long-term plummet in burglary rates, we must keep a watchful eye on the recent, pesky upticks and lament the stubbornly dismal clearance rates that suggest getting robbed is still far more likely than seeing a thief caught.
Victim Demographics
1Households with incomes under $25,000 had burglary rates 1.8 times higher in 2021
Verified2Elderly victims (65+) comprised 12.4% of burglary victims but reported 18.2% of incidents in 2021 NCVS
Verified3Single-person households faced 2.3 times higher burglary risk than multi-person in 2022
Verified4Urban households had a 14.2 per 1,000 burglary victimization rate vs. 5.1 rural in 2021
Directional5Black households experienced burglary at 15.6 per 1,000 vs. 8.9 for white in 2021
Single source6Hispanic households burglary rate was 11.2 per 1,000 in 2021 NCVS data
Verified7Renter-occupied housing had 1.7 times higher burglary rates than owner-occupied in 2021
Verified8Females headed 28.5% of burglarized households in 2021 surveys
Verified9Children under 12 were present in 22.1% of burglarized homes in 2021
Directional10Low-income urban victims reported 42% higher theft losses in burglaries
Single source1131.4% of burglary victims were aged 25-34 in 2021 NCVS
Verified12Married couples households had lower burglary rates by 25% than singles
Verified13Vacant homes were burglarized at 3.8 times the rate of occupied ones in urban areas
Verified1417.2% of Asian households faced burglary victimization in high-crime cities
Directional15Victims with college education reported 14% fewer burglaries than high school only
Single source16Suburban victims averaged $1,800 loss vs. $3,200 urban in 2021
Verified1765+ year-olds comprised 9.8% of victims but 15.3% of repeat victims
Verified18Households with young children (under 6) had 1.4 times higher risk
Verified19White non-Hispanic victims were 62.3% of total in 2021 NCVS
Directional20Male-headed households reported 1.2 times more burglaries than female
Single source2123.7% of burglaries targeted homes with no alarm systems
Verified22Poor households (income <10k) had 23.4 per 1,000 burglary rate in 2021
VerifiedVictim Demographics Interpretation
The statistics paint a stark portrait of burglary as a crime of predatory opportunity, disproportionately targeting the vulnerable—the poor, the isolated, the young, and renters in urban areas—while offering a relative sanctuary to the married, the educated, and those who can afford a home or an alarm system.
Sources & References
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