“Don’t forget to take out the trash.”
“Did you pick up the pasta for dinner?”
“Remember you need to give me the quarterly numbers by the end of the week.”
We hear countless demands and questions every day that have to do with our personal and professional lives. The things on our to do lists exceed the space we have available on a piece of paper and extend several scrolling motions down on a personal digital assistant. Yet, we rarely ask some of the most important questions and respond to any of the critical commands that should motivate us to set up a powerful home security system.
Is your home safe for your family?
Do you have what it takes to prevent the theft of your most valuable possessions?
What are the statistical chances your home will be burglarized this year?
You need more than a sense of urgency to protect your family and valuables. One look at the 2016 burglary statistics should make developing a home security plan the number one priority in your life.
Overview of Burglary Statistics
Did you know that more than 75% of all crimes involve the theft of some type of property? It might not be glamorous enough to consume an entire episode of Law & Order, but property crimes dominate the dockets in criminal trials. Of all the burglaries committed within the United States, 88% involve theft conducted on residential properties. Nearly 38% of all robberies involve the use of a firearm, whether the gun was displayed or used in a violent manner to carry out a theft.
Burglaries involve much more than the loss of property and financial assets, as identity theft has emerged as the fastest growing crime in the United States, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. Leave your driver’s license and/or Social Security card on the coffee table and you take the chance of kissing your life goodbye.
What the Thieves Want
Although identity theft is on the rise, criminals who commit burglaries and robberies typically want to take property for the immediate conversion into cash. Thieves search for valuables that they can quickly turn into cash to support a drug habit or to pay for the next meal. The first priority for most criminals is to steal cash, which eliminates the process of converting assets into currency. Thieves want access to cash irresponsibly placed in a dresser drawer or on top of a kitchen counter. They have neither have the time or patience to figure out if you have created a diversion safe, such as a can safe that conceals your money out in plain view of a thief.
Criminals also like to steal small electronic devices that include iPads, laptops, and Smartphones. Larger electronic devices like flat screen televisions and audio play back systems require more time to confiscate, but the hundreds, if not thousands of dollars returned to a thief is worth the time it takes rip off large electronic devices. Gold, watches, and jewelry represent prime theft candidates because of the ease of stealing the items and the ease of converting the items into cash. Guns, tools, and medications round out the list of the most popular things thieves like to steal.
FBI Statistics
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports a criminal commits a home burglary once every 13 seconds. During the time it takes you to read this post, thieves will commit about 10 burglaries within the United States. Thirty-four percent of property crimes occur by thieves entering homes through the front door, with another 23% of property crimes starting with thieves climbing through first door windows. Since only 4% of thieves enter a home via an unlocked entrance, this means criminals typically have no problem gaining access to a home by breaking through a locked door or window.
When Do Thieve Like to Steal?
The last sentence should give homeowners pause for concern, since locking all of your doors and windows does not mean your home is safe from a criminal who wants your most valuable possessions. In fact, the FBI states that nearly two-thirds of residential property thefts happen between 6am and 6pm when most home residents are at work or in school. The most common interval for burglars is between 10am and 3pm.
FBI statistics prove locked doors and windows do not deter thieves. However, the installation of a comprehensive home security system forces criminals to move down the street to steal from one of your unprepared neighbors. Even the addition of one or more hidden safes can prevent the loss of your most valuable possessions.