While over half a million American homes were burglarized last year alone, the statistics reveal surprising patterns about when these crimes happen, who is most at risk, and how you can protect your own household.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the FBI reported 899,293 burglaries nationwide, with residential burglaries accounting for 62% or approximately 557,000 incidents targeting homes
- According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) 2021, there were an estimated 1.07 million household burglations, down 9% from 2020
- The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded 228,000 domestic burglaries in England and Wales for the year ending March 2023, a 32% decrease from pre-pandemic levels
- According to NCVS 2022, households with incomes under $25,000 had a burglary victimization rate of 12.5 per 1,000, twice the national average
- BJS data shows 65% of burglary victims are white, 27% Black, 5% Hispanic in 2021
- UK Crime Survey 2023: Households with children under 16 twice as likely to be burgled (3.2% vs 1.6%)
- NCVS 2022 shows burglaries peak in July-August, 28% of annual total occurring summer months
- FBI UCR 2022: 40% of residential burglaries occur between 6 PM and 6 AM (nighttime)
- UK CSEW 2023: Most domestic burglaries on weekends, Saturday highest at 18%
- BJS NCVS 2022: Forced entry used in 55% of burglaries, often via doors (32%)
- FBI UCR 2022: Unlawful entry without force 28% of residential burglaries
- UK ONS 2023: 60% of domestic burglaries involve no forced entry (unlocked)
- NCVS 2022: Average loss per burglary $2,601 (2021 dollars)
- BJS 2021: 67% of burglarized households lose property worth over $1,000
- UK ONS 2023: Average burglary loss £2,500, insurance claims £1.2 billion yearly
Home robbery rates fell in many areas but remain high, with most incidents happening at night.
Consequences and Responses
- NCVS 2022: Average loss per burglary $2,601 (2021 dollars)
- BJS 2021: 67% of burglarized households lose property worth over $1,000
- UK ONS 2023: Average burglary loss £2,500, insurance claims £1.2 billion yearly
- FBI 2022: Clearance rate for residential burglaries 12.5% nationally
- NCVS 2022: 41% of victims suffer emotional distress post-burglary
- California 2022: Burglary arrests 13%, convictions 8%
- Australia 2023: 25% households install alarms post-burglary
- Texas 2022: Property loss from burglaries $450 million
- NYPD 2022: Burglary clearance 18% in Manhattan
- Eurostat 2022: EU burglary clearance average 10-15%, lowest in Italy 5%
- Chicago 2023: Post-burglary PTSD-like symptoms in 35% victims
- Canada 2022: Average B&E loss CAD 2,800
- LA PD 2022: 11% clearance rate for burglaries
- BKA 2022: Germany burglary solved rate 38% (highest in EU)
- Florida 2022: 55% victims uninsured, average out-of-pocket $1,200
- NCVS 2021: Police notified in 45% of household burglaries
- Philadelphia 2023: Burglary arrests up 5% to 15%
- Houston 2023: Total burglary losses $120 million
- Detroit 2022: Low clearance 8%, high recidivism 40%
- UK 2023: Victim satisfaction with police response 60%
- Baltimore 2022: Decline in losses due to 20% fewer incidents
- Memphis 2023: Firearm thefts in 30% burglaries, fueling violence
- Phoenix 2022: Clearance 14%, property recovery 10%
- San Antonio 2023: 28% victims change locks post-incident
- Columbus 2022: Average loss $3,200 per residential burglary
- Atlanta 2023: Emotional impact leads to 22% moving residences
- FBI 2022: Burglary contributes 20% to total property crime losses ($3.4B)
- BJS 2022: Repeat victimization within 12 months in 12% households
Consequences and Responses Interpretation
While burglary might seem like a numbers game of moderate financial hits and dismal clearance rates, the real cost is a lingering trauma that transforms a home into a crime scene, making victims pay in fear long after the cash and jewels are gone.
Demographic Statistics
- According to NCVS 2022, households with incomes under $25,000 had a burglary victimization rate of 12.5 per 1,000, twice the national average
- BJS data shows 65% of burglary victims are white, 27% Black, 5% Hispanic in 2021
- UK Crime Survey 2023: Households with children under 16 twice as likely to be burgled (3.2% vs 1.6%)
- FBI UCR 2022: Females heads of household report 55% of residential burglaries
- NCVS 2020-2022: Elderly (65+) households burglary rate 5.2 per 1,000 vs 10.1 for under 65
- California DOJ 2022: Latino households 22% of residential burglary victims despite 39% population
- Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023: Renters 2.5 times more likely to experience home break-ins than owners (4.1% vs 1.6%)
- BJS NCVS 2021: Urban households burglary rate 11.2 per 1,000 vs 6.8 rural
- Texas DPS 2022: African American victims 32% of residential burglaries
- UK ONS 2023: Single-person households burglary risk 2.7% vs 1.2% multi-adult
- NCVS 2022: Households with 4+ members highest victimization at 13.4 per 1,000
- NYPD 2022 CompStat: 45% of burglary victims aged 25-44
- Canada GSS 2019: Immigrants 1.5 times more likely to be victims of home break-ins
- LA County Sheriff 2022: Low-income areas (<$50k median) 70% of home robberies
- Eurostat 2022: Southern EU countries higher victimization for low SES households (up to 4%)
- Chicago PD 2023: Black residents 85% of burglary victims in certain districts
- BJS 2018-2022: Renter-occupied homes burglary rate 18.7 per 1,000 vs 5.2 owner-occupied
- Florida FDLE 2022: Seniors (65+) 12% of victims but lower rate per capita
- Germany's BKA 2022: Families with children 55% of burglary victims
- NCVS 2021: Hispanic households 9.2 burglary rate vs 7.8 non-Hispanic white
- Philadelphia 2022: Young adults (18-24) 28% of reported victims
- Houston PD 2023: Hispanic victims 42% of residential burglaries
- Detroit 2022: Low-education households 3x victimization risk
- BJS NCVS: Single females higher risk than single males by 20%
- Memphis 2023: African American households 92% victims in high-crime areas
- San Diego PD 2022: Asian households lowest rate at 4.5 per 1,000
- BJS 2022: Households without security systems 85% of burglarized homes
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
The crime data paints a relentlessly predictable portrait: burglary is not a random menace but a targeted tax on vulnerability, disproportionately preying on the poor, the young, families with children, and those who rent.
Incidence Rates
- In 2022, the FBI reported 899,293 burglaries nationwide, with residential burglaries accounting for 62% or approximately 557,000 incidents targeting homes
- According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) 2021, there were an estimated 1.07 million household burglations, down 9% from 2020
- The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded 228,000 domestic burglaries in England and Wales for the year ending March 2023, a 32% decrease from pre-pandemic levels
- In California, 2022 saw 92,500 reported residential burglaries, representing 15% of all burglaries in the state per CDCR data
- Australia's ABS reported 128,000 victims of unlawful entry with intent (home burglary equivalent) in 2022-23
- FBI UCR 2021 data shows Texas with 78,293 burglaries, 58% residential, totaling about 45,410 home entries
- NCVS 2020 estimated 843,000 completed household burglaries where property was taken
- New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services reported 22,500 residential burglaries in 2022
- Eurostat 2022 data indicates 2.1 million residential burglaries across EU member states
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement 2022 Uniform Crime Reports: 35,200 residential burglaries
- BJS 2018-2022 NCVS trend: Household burglary rate fell from 13.3 to 8.9 per 1,000 households
- Chicago Police Department 2023: 12,500 residential burglaries, up 10% from 2022
- Canada Statistics 2022: 78,900 break and enters into residences
- Los Angeles PD 2022: 18,900 residential burglaries reported
- UK Home Office 2023: Burglary victimisation rate 1.8% for households
- Philadelphia PD 2022: 7,200 home burglaries
- BJS NCVS 2022: 812,000 attempted and completed household burglaries
- Houston PD 2023 Year-End Review: 9,500 residential burglaries
- Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA) 2022: 145,000 residential burglaries, down 8.7%
- Detroit PD 2022: 4,800 home invasions/burglaries
- FBI 2020: Peak pandemic drop to 719,000 burglaries, 60% residential
- Atlanta PD 2023: 3,200 residential burglaries
- BJS 2019 NCVS: 1.1 million burglaries with offenders present in 12%
- Baltimore PD 2022: 5,100 burglaries to dwellings
- Memphis PD 2023: 6,700 residential burglaries
- FBI SHR 2022: Robbery residences 4.2% of all robberies (about 16,000)
- Phoenix PD 2022: 7,800 home burglaries
- NCVS 2021: Burglary rate 7.4 per 1,000 households for urban areas
- San Antonio PD 2023: 5,200 residential burglaries
- Columbus OH PD 2022: 3,900 burglaries of residences
Incidence Rates Interpretation
Despite a heartening global decline in home burglaries, these statistics soberly remind us that somewhere, right now, someone is likely testing a lock and hoping it’s the one you forgot to check.
Modus Operandi
- BJS NCVS 2022: Forced entry used in 55% of burglaries, often via doors (32%)
- FBI UCR 2022: Unlawful entry without force 28% of residential burglaries
- UK ONS 2023: 60% of domestic burglaries involve no forced entry (unlocked)
- NCVS 2021: Windows broken in 18% of home burglaries
- California DOJ 2022: Garage entry in 22% of residential cases
- Australia ABS 2022: Opportunistic theft via open doors/windows 45%
- Texas UCR 2022: 40% burglaries with theft of electronics (TVs, laptops)
- NYPD 2022: Smash-and-grab rear doors 15% in Queens
- Eurostat 2022: Theft of cash/jewelry primary in 52% EU residential burglaries
- Chicago PD 2023: 35% involve prying tools on doors
- Canada StatCan 2022: Residential B&Es 25% via basement windows
- LA County 2022: Vehicle-to-home burglary sequence in 18% cases
- BKA 2022: German burglars use distraction tactics in 12% occupied homes
- Florida 2022: 28% burglaries target unoccupied vacation homes
- NCVS 2020: Offenders alone in 75% burglaries, groups in 25%
- Philadelphia 2023: Crowbar entry 20%
- Houston 2023: 42% theft of firearms from homes
- Detroit 2022: Porch theft precursor to 15% full entries
- UK Home Office 2023: Online scouting via social media in 8% cases
- Baltimore 2022: 30% via rear/side doors
- Memphis 2023: Armed home invasions 7% with knives
- Phoenix 2022: 22% climbing to balconies/second floors
- San Antonio 2023: Distraction burglary on elderly 5%
- Columbus 2022: 65% theft under $500 value
- Atlanta 2023: Car break-ins lead to 20% home follows
- FBI SHR 2022: Firearms used in 12% home robberies, knives 22%
Modus Operandi Interpretation
The statistics paint a grimly amusing portrait of modern home burglary: despite our obsession with high-tech security, the most common offender remains a solo opportunist who simply walks through an unlocked door to steal your TV and spare cash, proving that the oldest crime often requires the least force.
Temporal Patterns
- NCVS 2022 shows burglaries peak in July-August, 28% of annual total occurring summer months
- FBI UCR 2022: 40% of residential burglaries occur between 6 PM and 6 AM (nighttime)
- UK CSEW 2023: Most domestic burglaries on weekends, Saturday highest at 18%
- BJS NCVS 2021: Friday evenings see 15% higher burglary reports
- California OpenJustice 2022: Residential burglaries spike 25% in December holiday season
- Australia ABS 2023: Home invasions peak mid-year (July) at 12% of total
- Texas DPS 2022: 35% burglaries daytime (occupied homes less)
- NYPD CompStat 2023: Burglaries up 12% Thursdays
- Eurostat 2022: EU burglaries highest in autumn (Sept-Nov) 32%
- Chicago PD 2023: Winter months (Dec-Feb) 22% fewer burglaries
- Canada StatCan 2022: Residential B&Es peak August (11%)
- LA PD 2022: Night burglaries 55%, mostly 10 PM-2 AM window
- BKA Germany 2022: Burglaries drop 15% in January coldest month
- Florida FDLE 2022: Spring break period (March) 18% spike in coastal areas
- NCVS 2020: Pandemic lockdowns reduced burglaries 30% in spring 2020
- Philadelphia PD 2023: Halloween week 10% increase in home entries
- Houston PD 2023: Summer (Jun-Aug) 42% of yearly residential burglaries
- Detroit PD 2022: Evenings (5-9 PM) 28% of incidents when residents home
- UK Home Office: Post-COVID rebound highest in summer 2022, up 20%
- Baltimore 2022: Fridays 16% of weekly burglaries
- Memphis PD 2023: Nighttime home robberies 62%
- Phoenix PD 2022: Monsoon season (Jul-Sep) 15% higher due to cover
- San Antonio PD 2023: Holidays (Thanksgiving-Dec) 25% of annual total
- Columbus PD 2022: Weekends 38% vs weekdays 62%
- Atlanta PD 2023: Back-to-school (Aug-Sep) drop 10%
- FBI 2022: Robberies at homes peak evening hours 6-10 PM (45%)
- NCVS 2021: Winter lowest burglary month (Jan 6%)
Temporal Patterns Interpretation
While the burglar's calendar is as varied as a travel agency's brochure, their core strategy remains a depressingly simple calculation of opportunity versus occupancy, suggesting your best defense is to make your home look like someone is always rooting against their odds.
Sources & References
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