Security Statistics

What You Need To Know

• In 2007, there were an estimated 2,179,140 burglaries—a decrease of 0.2 percent when compared with 2006 data.

• An examination of 5- and 10-year trends revealed an increase of 1.1 percent in the number of burglaries when compared with the 2003 estimate and a decline of 6.6 percent when compared with the 1998 estimate.

• Burglary accounted for 22.1 percent of the estimated number of property crimes committed in 2007.

• Of all burglaries, 61.1 percent involved forcible entry, 32.4 percent were unlawful entries (without force), and the remainder (6.5 percent) were forcible entry attempts.

• In 2007, burglary offenses cost victims an estimated $4.3 billion in lost property; overall, the average dollar loss per burglary offense was $1,991.

• Burglary of residential properties accounted for 67.9 percent of all burglary offenses.

• Offenses for which time of occurrence was known showed that 57.4 percent of burglaries took place during the day and 42.6 percent at night.

• A study in Connecticut showed that 12 percent of burglaries occurred through an UNLOCKED door.

• A study in Connecticut showed that in 41 percent of alarmed homes that were burglarized, the security system was not turned on.

 

Arson

• A total of 76,045 arson offenses were reported in 1999. Structures are the most frequent targets of arsonists, comprising 45 percent of the reported incidents in 1999. Residential property was involved in 61 percent of the structural arsons during the year, while 43 percent of the arsons were directed at single-family dwellings.

• In 1999, the monetary value of property damaged due to reported arson averaged $10,882 per offense.

• Of the arsons cleared in 1999, 48 percent involved only young people under the age of 18, a higher percentage of juvenile involvement than for any other crime.

 

Cost of Fire

• Self-installed smoke alarms save lives by alerting sleeping residents to get out. Electronic fire alarms not only alert residents, they can also automatically notify the authorities, saving property in addition to lives.

• Number of Residential Fires in 1992 – 467,000

• Number of Residential Fire Deaths in 1992 – 4, 115

• Cost of Residential Fires in 1992 – $3,998,000,000 Source: National Fire Experience Survey

 

Burglar Bars Can Kill...

• From 1985 to 1991, an average of 16 people died each year due to burglar bars blocking their exits from burning homes or buildings.
  

 

Fires Are Linked to Products

• In 1999, residential fires started by smoking materials (typically cigarettes, cigars and pipes) accounted for roughly 882 civilian deaths, 2,126 civilian injuries, and $335.3 million in direct property damage.

• In 1997, children playing with fire (typically lighters and matches) started 16,970 residential, 3,120 business, 850 car and 44,130 other residential structure and outdoor fires. This resulted in 284 civilian deaths, 2,158 civilian injuries, and more than $283.3 million in direct property damage, mostly from home fires.

• Source: Children Playing with Fire, National Fire Protection Association, Learn Not To Burn Foundation, STAT Resources, Inc., Simon Hakim, Temple University, International Assoc. of Chiefs of Police