Monitored alarms deter 83 percent of burglars upon activation. Yet over 800,000 burglaries still occur annually in the United States, often through unlocked doors.
Key Takeaways
- Homes with alarms 300% less likely to be burglarized per NBFAA.
- FBI: Monitored alarms deter 83% of burglars upon activation.
- UNC Charlotte study: Signs alone reduce burglary by 24%.
- In 2022, the FBI reported 834,890 burglaries in the United States, a 6.1% decrease from 2021.
- SafeWise found that 34% of Americans have been victims of home crime, including burglary.
- Between 2017 and 2022, residential burglaries dropped by 25% in the US per FBI data.
- Low-income homes 2x vulnerable to window breaks.
- Single women households: 25% higher burglary rate.
- Elderly over 65: 1.5x victimization rate per BJS.
- Doors most common entry: 34% of burglaries per FBI.
- 23% enter via first-floor windows, unsecured per police stats.
- Garages: 12% of break-ins, often unlocked per SafeWise.
- 59% of US homes have security systems installed per 2023 Statista.
- SafeWise 2023: 48% of Americans plan to add smart home security.
- Parks Associates: 40% of smart homes have video doorbells in 2022.
Alarmed, monitored homes are far less likely to be burglarized and smart video helps deter attacks quickly.
Related reading
01 · Category
Alarm Effectiveness16 stats
01
Homes with alarms 300% less likely to be burglarized per NBFAA.
02
FBI: Monitored alarms deter 83% of burglars upon activation.
03
UNC Charlotte study: Signs alone reduce burglary by 24%.
04
Insurance discounts average 20% for alarm-equipped homes.
05
ADT claims alarms prevent $15B in losses annually US-wide.
06
60% of burglars will avoid homes with visible cameras.
07
BJS: Homes with alarms burglarized 50% less frequently.
08
UK police: Verified alarms reduce false calls by 90%.
09
Ring data: Doorbells catch 70% of porch thefts.
10
85% burglars check for alarms before entry per KGW study.
11
Monitored systems respond in under 30 seconds average.
12
Video surveillance reduces property crime by 13-21% meta-analysis.
13
76% of convicted burglars admit avoiding alarmed homes.
14
Smart alarms cut response time by 40% vs traditional.
15
90% deterrence from barking dog alarms per ASIS.
16
False alarms cost cities $2B yearly but effective verified ones save more.
Interpretation
Alarm Effectiveness Interpretation
Installing a home alarm system is effectively a 300% more eloquent way of telling a burglar to get lost, while also giving your insurance company a 20% reason to give you a discount.
02 · Category
Burglary Incidence20 stats
01
In 2022, the FBI reported 834,890 burglaries in the United States, a 6.1% decrease from 2021.
02
SafeWise found that 34% of Americans have been victims of home crime, including burglary.
03
Between 2017 and 2022, residential burglaries dropped by 25% in the US per FBI data.
04
In 2023, burglaries cost US households an average of $2,351per incident according to insurance claims.
05
UK Home Office stats show 1 in 5 burglaries occur when residents are home, totaling 250,000 cases yearly.
06
NeighborhoodScout reports burglary rates 2.5 times national average in urban areas.
07
2021 FBI data: 62% of burglaries are residential, affecting 1.8 million homes.
08
Statista indicates US burglary rate fell to 3.2 per 1,000 households in 2021.
09
Insurance Information Institute: Burglary claims averaged $4,800per household in 2022.
10
ADT Security survey: 41% of burglaries occur during daytime hours.
11
In California, 2022 saw 112,000 burglaries, highest in US per capita.
12
National average burglary time is 8-12 minutes per FBI analysis.
13
2023 SafeHome.org: Burglaries up 7% in suburbs post-pandemic.
14
66% of burglars enter through front/back doors, per UNC study.
15
US burglary victimization rate: 2.4 per 1,000 in 2021 BJS.
16
Europe: 3.5 million residential burglaries annually per Eurostat.
17
Texas reported 140,000 burglaries in 2022, per state police.
18
Average US home burglary loss: $2,416excluding uninsured items.
19
2022 global burglary rate highest in South Africa at 1,100 per 100k.
20
FBI: Burglaries without forced entry: 34% in 2021.
Interpretation
Burglary Incidence Interpretation
While burglary rates are thankfully trending downward, the fact that one in three Americans will experience home crime—with the average incident costing over $2,000 and often happening in broad daylight through an unlocked door—means our collective sigh of relief should still be accompanied by a firm turn of the deadbolt.
03 · Category
Demographic Risks17 stats
01
Low-income homes 2x vulnerable to window breaks.
02
Single women households: 25% higher burglary rate.
03
Elderly over 65: 1.5x victimization rate per BJS.
04
Renters 40% more likely than owners per SafeWise.
05
Homes with children under 5: 15% higher risk.
06
African American households: 2.3x burglary rate vs white.
07
Vacant rental properties: 300% increased risk.
08
Suburban families: 20% lower than urban singles.
09
Low education households: 35% higher victimization.
10
Immigrants: 1.8x risk in first year US residency.
11
Large families (5+): 28% more burglaries due visibility.
12
Disabled residents: 50% higher home crime exposure.
13
Young adults 18-24: Peak victimization at 3.1 per 1k.
14
High-income ($100k+): 10% lower risk with systems.
15
Military families: 22% higher during deployments.
16
Single-parent homes: 33% elevated burglary odds.
17
Rural poor: 1.7x urban poor in isolation risks.
Interpretation
Demographic Risks Interpretation
While security systems may protect the well-padded homes of the wealthy, the statistics coldly reveal that burglary is less a crime of opportunity and more a predatory tax on poverty, isolation, and vulnerability.
More related reading
04 · Category
Home Vulnerabilities16 stats
01
Doors most common entry: 34% of burglaries per FBI.
02
23% enter via first-floor windows, unsecured per police stats.
03
Garages: 12% of break-ins, often unlocked per SafeWise.
04
41% of burglaries no forced entry, via unlocked doors/windows.
05
Basements/sheds vulnerable in 9% rural burglaries.
06
65% homes leave doors unlocked occasionally per survey.
07
Second-floor entries: 2% but rising with balconies.
08
Porch/patio doors: 7% breaches due to weak locks.
09
81% burglars spend under 5 min picking easy targets.
10
Vacant homes 3x more likely burglarized per insurance data.
11
Mailbox theft precursor to 15% home invasions.
12
27% via rear windows, hidden from street view.
13
Smart locks vulnerable to hacking in 5% cases per cybersecurity reports.
14
Trees/shrubs hide 18% entry points per landscaping study.
15
52% homes without deadbolts on exterior doors.
16
Urban apartments: 30% balcony vulnerabilities.
Interpretation
Home Vulnerabilities Interpretation
If your unlocked door practically issues an engraved invitation for a third of all burglaries, the sobering truth is that while you're busy reinforcing second-floor balconies or worrying about digital locks, the most common and preventable theft begins with a simple, careless turn of the knob.
05 · Category
System Adoption19 stats
01
59% of US homes have security systems installed per 2023 Statista.
02
SafeWise 2023: 48% of Americans plan to add smart home security.
03
Parks Associates: 40% of smart homes have video doorbells in 2022.
04
Alarm Industry: 22 million US households with monitored alarms in 2023.
05
Ring survey: 55% adoption increase in urban apartments post-2020.
06
Statista: Global home security market reached $47B in 2022.
07
32% of millennials own home security systems vs 25% boomers.
08
UK: 28% households have alarms, up from 20% in 2015 per ONS.
09
Vivint: 67% of new home buyers prioritize security systems.
10
2023 Parks: 36% US homes with DIY security solutions.
11
Canada: 41% homes secured, highest in Ontario per StatsCan.
12
Abode: 51% increase in smart lock adoption 2021-2023.
13
45% of renters use wireless cameras per Apartment List survey.
14
Global: 15% penetration rate for professional monitoring in 2022.
15
US suburbs: 61% adoption vs 52% cities per SafeWise.
16
2022: 10 million new security devices sold in North America.
17
Elderly households: 38% secured vs national 30% average.
18
Australia: 35% homes with systems, per ABS crime survey.
19
Frontpoint: 70% of Gen Z interested in AI security.
Interpretation
System Adoption Interpretation
It seems we're collectively in a frantic race to fortress our homes with gadgets and gizmos, yet we can't quite decide if we're building a high-tech sanctuary or just nervously keeping up with the paranoid Joneses.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Home Security Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/home-security-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Home Security Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/home-security-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Home Security Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/home-security-statistics.
Sources & references
60 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level