While the FBI’s latest data shows a welcome 6.2% drop in reported burglaries to 898,467 incidents in 2022, the unsettling reality that over 63% of these crimes target our homes reveals how vital it is for every homeowner and renter to understand the evolving risks and most effective ways to protect their property and family.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 898,467 reported burglaries in the United States, marking a 6.2% decrease from 2021
- The burglary rate in the US fell to 266.0 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022 from 283.0 in 2021 according to FBI data
- Between 2019 and 2022, residential burglaries accounted for 63.4% of all burglaries reported to police nationwide
- Black households had a burglary victimization rate of 19.7 per 1,000 in 2021
- Hispanic households faced 17.2 burglaries per 1,000 in 2021
- White households had 12.1 per 1,000 burglary rate in 2021
- 41% of offenders in residential burglaries are under 18 years old
- 83% of burglars are male, per US Department of Justice data
- Average age of arrested burglars is 25 years
- The average burglary results in $2,473 in property losses in 2022
- Total cost of burglaries in US exceeds $3.4 billion annually
- Insurance covers 57% of burglary losses on average
- Burglary rates dropped 9.7% from 2019 to 2022 nationally
- Residential burglaries declined 81% from 1993 peak to 2021
- Post-COVID, burglaries fell 10% in 2020 due to stay-at-home orders
US burglary rates are declining nationally, but significant geographic and demographic disparities remain.
Economic Impact
- The average burglary results in $2,473 in property losses in 2022
- Total cost of burglaries in US exceeds $3.4 billion annually
- Insurance covers 57% of burglary losses on average
- Average deductible for burglary claims is $1,000
- Electronics account for 40% of stolen value in burglaries
- Jewelry makes up 20% of burglary theft value, cash 15%
- 66% of burglary victims file insurance claims averaging $8,500
- Indirect costs like time off work add $1,500 per incident
- California burglary losses totaled $1.2 billion in 2022
- National property crime costs $15.3 billion yearly, burglaries 22%
- Home security systems reduce losses by 60% per FBI estimates
- Uninsured losses average $1,200 per burglary
- Businesses recover only 12% of stolen property value, homes 20%
- Average UK burglary loss is £6,200 ($8,000 USD)
- Australian average burglary loss $4,500 AUD
- 31% of victims lose over $5,000 in a single burglary
- Burglary claims drive up premiums by 7% on average
- 25% of burglarized homes suffer structural damage costing $500+
- Stolen firearms from burglaries number 380,000 yearly, value $300m
- Emotional distress costs victims $2,100 in therapy/medical per incident
- Low-income victims lose 15% of annual income to burglary
- Insurance payouts for burglaries hit $1.8 billion in 2021
- Pawn shops buy 40% of burglary loot, untraceable 70%
Economic Impact Interpretation
Even though insurance covers a bit over half the cost, the real robbery might just be the double hit of your premium going up and your peace of mind staying down, especially when you consider how much of your favorite gadgets and heirlooms are funding someone else's quick cash scheme.
Incidence and Prevalence
- In 2022, there were 898,467 reported burglaries in the United States, marking a 6.2% decrease from 2021
- The burglary rate in the US fell to 266.0 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022 from 283.0 in 2021 according to FBI data
- Between 2019 and 2022, residential burglaries accounted for 63.4% of all burglaries reported to police nationwide
- In 2021, the National Crime Victimization Survey estimated 1.03 million completed or attempted residential burglaries
- Urban areas experienced a burglary victimization rate of 15.4 per 1,000 households in 2021, compared to 10.2 in suburban and 6.8 in rural areas
- From 1993 to 2021, the burglary victimization rate declined by 77% from 59.4 to 13.5 per 1,000 households
- In 2020, households in the Western US had the highest burglary rate at 17.2 per 1,000 households
- About 68% of residential burglaries occur during the day when homes are unoccupied, per a 2017 study
- The average time to commit a residential burglary is under 10 minutes in 60% of cases
- In 2022, California reported 102,983 burglaries, the highest in the nation
- Texas had 85,472 burglaries in 2022, ranking second nationally
- Florida recorded 58,331 burglaries in 2022
- New York saw 25,821 burglaries in 2022, down 12% from prior year
- In 2021, the clearance rate for burglaries was 12.4% nationally
- Residential burglaries make up 61% of all burglaries in the US per 2020 data
- In 2019, there were 719,000 burglaries reported, with a rate of 216.6 per 100,000
- The burglary rate for households with incomes under $25,000 was 20.1 per 1,000 in 2021
- Households with 4 or more members had a burglary rate of 18.9 per 1,000 in 2021
- Renter-occupied households experienced burglary at 22.3 per 1,000 vs 9.8 for owner-occupied in 2021
- In 2022, burglary offenses decreased 7.5% in cities with over 1 million population
- Suburban counties saw a 2.1% drop in burglaries from 2021 to 2022
- Rural counties reported 4.3% fewer burglaries in 2022 vs 2021
- Nevada had the highest burglary rate at 353.5 per 100,000 in 2022
- New Mexico's burglary rate was 318.9 per 100,000 in 2022, second highest
- Arkansas reported 295.3 burglaries per 100,000 residents in 2022
- Louisiana's rate stood at 266.2 per 100,000 in 2022
- In England and Wales, residential burglaries fell 16% in 2022/23 to 228,000 incidents
- Australia recorded 132,347 residential burglaries in 2022
- Canada saw 87,422 break and enters into dwellings in 2022
- In 2021, 1 in 45 US households experienced a burglary, per NCVS estimates
Incidence and Prevalence Interpretation
While the statistically good news is that burglary is becoming less of a national pastime, the practical takeaway remains that a daytime break-in is still a disturbingly quick and likely unsolved ten-minute gamble against your peace of mind.
Offender Characteristics
- 41% of offenders in residential burglaries are under 18 years old
- 83% of burglars are male, per US Department of Justice data
- Average age of arrested burglars is 25 years
- 44% of convicted burglars have prior criminal records
- 13% of burglars are armed with guns during commission
- 60% of burglars commit crimes within 2 miles of their home
- 12% of burglars enter through unlocked doors/windows
- Most burglars (59%) look for cash first, then jewelry and electronics
- 34% of burglars scout homes in advance
- Addicted offenders commit 76% of burglaries for drug money
- 87% of burglars check for security cameras before entering
- Professional burglars account for 13% of incidents, amateurs 87%
- Repeat burglars commit average 226 burglaries lifetime
- 70% of burglars would avoid homes with visible alarm signs
- Burglars prefer second-story entries in 23% of cases to avoid dogs
- 75% of convicted burglars are high school dropouts
- Black offenders comprise 52% of burglary arrests
- White offenders 45%, Hispanic 3% of burglary arrests in 2022
- Juveniles under 18 account for 25% of burglary arrests
- Groups of 2+ offenders commit 40% of residential burglaries
- 65% of burglars spend less than 5 minutes inside the home
- Only 29% of burglars carry weapons, mostly knives
- 56% of burglars pawn stolen goods immediately
- In the UK, 80% of burglars reoffend within a year of release
- Australian burglars average 5 prior convictions
Offender Characteristics Interpretation
While the typical burglar is a young, local, and undereducated male addict looking for quick cash, this portrait of a hapless amateur is dangerously incomplete, as the minority of armed, calculating, and highly active repeat offenders disproportionately terrorize communities and account for a staggering number of crimes.
Trends and Prevention
- Burglary rates dropped 9.7% from 2019 to 2022 nationally
- Residential burglaries declined 81% from 1993 peak to 2021
- Post-COVID, burglaries fell 10% in 2020 due to stay-at-home orders
- Summer months see 10% higher burglary rates than winter
- Fridays have 14% more burglaries than Sundays
- Homes with alarms 300% less likely to be burgled, FBI stat
- Dogs deter 83% of potential burglars
- Neighborhood watch reduces burglaries by 26%
- Clearance rates improved to 13.1% in 2022 from 12.4% 2021
- DNA evidence solves 33% more burglaries, UK study
- Smart doorbells reduce burglaries by 53% in equipped homes
- Visible cameras deter 60% of burglars
- Motion lights cut risk by 36%
- 75% fewer burglaries in gated communities
- Police foot patrols reduce burglaries 20% in areas
- Apps reporting suspicious activity lower incidents 15%
- Burglaries peaked in 1991 at 1.7 million, now 50% lower
- Pandemic recovery saw 3% burglary rise 2021-2022
- Youth programs reduce juvenile burglary by 40%
- 87% of burglars avoid occupied homes, deterrence stat
- Trimmed bushes lower risk 43%
- Deadbolts prevent 62% of forced entries
- UK burglaries down 77% since 1995 due to prevention
- Australia saw 5% annual decline 2018-2022
- Predictive policing apps cut burglaries 7.4% in trials
- 92% of burglars caught via neighbor tips
- Solar lights deter 55% nighttime attempts
- Community cameras solve 25% more cases
Trends and Prevention Interpretation
While the long-term trend shows burglary is in steep decline thanks to better prevention and technology, it remains a crime of opportunity, meaning a simple combination of a visible dog, a good deadbolt, and nosy neighbors is still the most timeless home security system.
Victim Characteristics
- Black households had a burglary victimization rate of 19.7 per 1,000 in 2021
- Hispanic households faced 17.2 burglaries per 1,000 in 2021
- White households had 12.1 per 1,000 burglary rate in 2021
- Households headed by persons aged 25-34 had the highest burglary rate at 20.5 per 1,000 in 2021
- Elderly-headed households (65+) had the lowest rate at 6.3 per 1,000 in 2021
- Single-person households experienced 18.4 burglaries per 1,000 in 2021
- Households with children under 12 had a rate of 15.2 per 1,000 in 2021
- Low-income households (<$25k) saw 20.1 victimizations per 1,000 in 2021
- High-income households (>$75k) had 10.4 per 1,000 in 2021
- Rented households had 22.3 burglaries per 1,000 vs 9.8 owned in 2021
- Urban households: 15.4 per 1,000; suburban: 10.2; rural: 6.8 in 2021
- Western region households: 17.2 per 1,000 burglaries in 2021
- Northeastern: 9.6 per 1,000; Midwestern: 11.8; Southern: 13.4 in 2021
- Females heading households had slightly higher rates at 14.2 vs 13.1 for males in 2021
- 42% of burglary victims are repeat victims within 12 months, per UK study
- Households without security systems are 300% more likely to be burgled
- Vacation homes are broken into 2% of the time when unoccupied
- Multi-family dwellings have 3x higher burglary risk than single-family
- Homes with visible valuables have 2.5x burglary likelihood
- Corner houses are 65% more likely to be targeted
- Houses backing onto open fields have 20% higher risk
- Homes with overgrown shrubs have 98% higher burglary rate
- 60% of burglaries occur in neighborhoods with median income under $40k
- Young adults 18-24 report highest fear of burglary at 28%
- 83% of US adults know a burglary victim personally
- Women are 25% more likely to be victimized in home invasions
- 34% of burglary victims are over 65 years old
Victim Characteristics Interpretation
While a burglar’s calculus is cruelly efficient—targeting the young, the less affluent, and renters with a prejudice that lays bare systemic inequities—it turns out that the best deterrents aren't wealth but a well-trimmed hedge, good neighbors, and a security system that actually works.
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