What Gets Stolen In Home Burglaries?
To
determine what types of property are favored by the average burglar,
the U.S. Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) researchers
analyzed a sample of 255 cases of unlawful no-force entries in which
there was some kind of property stolen.
At the head of the list, with 22 percent of recorded losses, is
cash. Tools and building materials held second place (all the
more reason to include your garage in your home security plan), and
entertainment equipment such as televisions, stereo components, and
cameras tied for third place with bicycles and home furnishings.
Here's the official list of most common items stolen in home burglaries:
If
you're the type of person who hides cash under his/her mattress, or
inside a box of frozen food in their freezer (yes, criminals are well
aware of this trick), this list of the most common things stolen in a
residential break-in may interest you:
| Household Item: |
% Of Incidents: |
| Cash |
22% |
| Tools And Building Supplies |
15% |
| Home Furnishings |
11% |
| Tv's, Stereos, Cameras, Computers |
11% |
| Bicycles, Parts |
11% |
| Jewellery, Furs, Silver |
8% |
| Food And Drink |
8% |
| Clothing |
6% |
| Sporting Goods |
6% |
| Motor Vehicles, Parts, Equipment |
5% |
| Gasoline |
4% |
| Guns And Ammunition |
2% |
Some of the
items on the list may represent targets of opportunity rather than any
active preference on the burglar's part. Such items as furs,
valuable jewerly, and silver are not generally found in the average
city or suburban home. But more houses, in a wide range of
neighborhoods, do contain cash and/or electronic gadgets of various
kinds.
These percentages apply to "no-force" entries; i.e. unlawful entries in
which a door or window was left unlocked and/or a security system was
not armed. So if you invest in better locks for your doors and windows, or a home security system, be sure to use them as intended to reap the benefits!