Renters are more likely to experience a burglary than homeowners, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Apartment buildings with two to four units are the most at risk of theft.
“This is probably because plenty of people come and go from apartment complexes daily, while homes only have a few family members who enter or leave,” according to ADT, a security firm, which recently analyzed data on burglary risks across the country.
There were nearly 1.6 million burglaries in 2015, amounting to about one every 20 seconds, according to the FBI. About 72 percent were residential.
The cities with the most burglaries, according to ADT’s analysis, are: Lake Charles, La.; Vallejo, Calif.; Pueblo, Colo.; Youngstown, Ohio; Springfield, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Canton, Ohio; Santa Fe, N.M.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Albany, Ga.
On the other hand, ADT reports that the cities with the lowest amounts of crime tend to share similar social and economic characteristics, such as low unemployment rates, high education levels, and small populations. The cities with the fewest burglaries are: Palatine, Ill.; Orland Park, Ill.; Peabody, Mass.; Fishers, Ind.; Leesburg, Va.; Ramapo Town, N.Y.; Novi, Mich.; Carmel, Ind.; Rochester Hills, Mich.; and Johns Creek, Ga.
Of 400 convicted burglars who shared their reasons for committing a theft, their top reasons for break-ins were: drugs (51%); money (37.1%); foolishness (5.4%); thrills (4.4%); or revenge (2.2%). The ADT survey also showed the top items these convicted burglars were hoping to find in a break-in were: cash (90%); jewelry (77.8%); illegal drugs (65.9%); electronics (63.5%); prescription drugs (50.5%); and clothing or shoes (18.4%).
Source: “Burglary Odds Across America,” ADT.com (August 2017)