How Many Burglaries Happen Every Year in the US? 13 Latest Statistics in 2025
Your home is your castle…
If burglary is one of your greatest fears, you’re not alone!
Check out our annual burglary statistics.
They are an eye-opener!
(Go and check the locks on your front door first, though!)
According to the latest burglary statistics, this crime occurs every day across America, and understanding the annual patterns can help you better protect your property.
To dodge disaster, you need the right protection in place. Understanding how many burglaries happen each year and the trends behind them is your first step toward better home security.
Let’s dive into the numbers:
Top Annual Burglary Statistics (Editor’s Choice)
- Approximately 840,000 burglaries occur every year in the US
- Residential burglaries dropped by 13% in 2024
- One burglary happens every 38 seconds in America
- Burglaries increase by 10% during summer months (June-August)
- New Mexico has the highest annual burglary rate at 517.9 per 100,000 residents
- Large cities are experiencing the greatest decreases in annual burglary rates
- Your home is 300% more likely to be burgled without a security system
How Many Burglaries Actually Happen Each Year?
According to the most recent FBI burglary statistics, 839,563 such crimes took place in 2023, representing a continued decline from previous years. Roughly speaking, this translates to one burglary every 38 seconds.
It’s a significant number, but the trend is encouraging – annual burglary rates have been steadily declining for over a decade.
Annual Trends and Geographic Patterns
Understanding how burglary numbers change year-over-year and vary by location helps paint the complete picture of this crime across America.
1. There was a 17.8% decrease in burglaries in the first quarter of 2024.
(Source: The Zebra)
Thankfully, the overall number of home invasions per year in the United States continues to decrease significantly. This could be due to changes in how the law regards burglaries and increased commitment to security systems.
Residential burglaries were down 13% in 2024 compared to 2023, continuing a long-term decline that has seen burglary rates drop by approximately 75% since the early 1990s.
2. Motor vehicle thefts decreased by 24% in 2024.
(Source: Council on Criminal Justice)
After several years of increases, motor vehicle theft finally saw a significant decline in 2024. However, car thefts are still 53% higher than pre-pandemic levels of 2019, showing how property crime trends can vary by type.
Geographic Distribution
3. Large cities have experienced a greater decrease in annual burglaries.
(Source: Council on Criminal Justice)
We often assume that living in a big city is going to be more dangerous. While cities usually have higher overall crime rates, burglaries seem to be the exception. Large urban areas are seeing the most significant year-over-year decreases in burglary rates.
4. New Mexico had 517.9 burglaries per 100,000 residents in 2023.
(Source: Statista)
According to state-by-state statistics, New Mexico remains the state with the highest annual burglary rate. Washington isn’t far behind, with 481 incidents per 100,000 residents.
Are you wondering what is the safest place to live? It’s New Hampshire with just 76.2 burglaries per 100,000 residents annually.
5. Burglaries rise by 10% during June-August.
(Source: The Zebra)
When analyzing annual burglary data, summer months consistently show higher numbers. You are more likely to experience a house burglary during these months, which affects the yearly totals significantly. It’s always a good idea to take extra precautions during summer, especially if you’re traveling.
Demographics and Risk Factors Affecting Annual Numbers
Understanding who gets targeted and when helps explain the patterns we see in yearly burglary statistics.
6. Homes with less than a $25,000 annual income are more likely to be burgled.
(Source: Consumer Affairs)
Income level significantly affects your likelihood of being included in annual burglary statistics. Unfortunately, this is probably due to the state of the property and the level of security the homeowner can afford.
It does not mean that earning a higher salary will keep you completely safe, but it does affect the overall numbers we see each year.
7. More than 28% of home burglaries occur during daylight hours.
(Source: Deep Sentinel)
If you think burglaries occur late at night, you need to think again. Understanding when most burglaries happen helps explain the annual patterns. The vast majority occur throughout the day while people are at work.
8. Only 27.6% of burglaries occur when someone is present at home.
(Source: Consumer Affairs)
This statistic helps explain why so many burglaries happen during work hours, contributing to the daytime pattern in annual data. Most burglars specifically target times when homes are empty.
9. $2,661 is the average cost of a typical burglary.
(Source: Security Explorer)
When looking at annual burglary totals, the economic impact is staggering. With hundreds of thousands of burglaries each year, this represents billions in losses to American families annually.
How Security Systems Impact Annual Numbers
The widespread adoption of home security has played a major role in reducing annual burglary statistics.
10. Your home is 300% more likely to be burgled without a home security system.
(Source: The Zebra)
If you want to avoid becoming part of next year’s burglary statistics, you need to get a home security system. These systems are the best deterrent and have contributed significantly to the declining annual numbers we’re seeing.
11. 83% of would-be burglars check for the presence of an alarm system before attempting a break-in.
(Source: The Zebra)
This behavior change has directly impacted annual burglary rates. As more homes install visible security systems, more burglars are deterred, contributing to the year-over-year decreases in many areas.
12. Only 12% of burglars admit their break-in was planned in advance.
(Source: The Zebra)
Since most burglaries are spur-of-the-moment decisions, visible security measures are particularly effective at reducing annual totals. Burglars looking for easy targets will move on when they see security systems, directly impacting the yearly statistics.
Key Takeaways
So how many burglaries happen every year in the US? Approximately 840,000, but this number has been steadily declining.
The trends are encouraging: residential burglaries dropped 13% in 2024, and we’re seeing the benefits of increased security awareness and better home protection systems.
However, with one burglary still occurring every 38 seconds, the risk remains real. The summer months see 10% more burglaries, and certain states like New Mexico continue to experience much higher rates than the national average.
The good news? You can significantly reduce your chances of becoming part of next year’s statistics by installing a proper home security system and taking basic precautions. As more Americans invest in home security, we expect to see these annual numbers continue their downward trend.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a burglary occur in the United States?
A burglary occurs every 38 seconds in the US, based on the approximately 840,000 annual incidents.
What time of year do most burglaries happen?
Summer months (June-August) see a 10% increase in burglaries compared to other seasons. Most individual burglaries occur during daytime hours when homes are empty.
Which state has the most burglaries per capita?
New Mexico has the highest burglary rate at 517.9 incidents per 100,000 residents annually. New Hampshire has the lowest rate at just 76.2 per 100,000 residents.
How much does the average burglary cost victims?
The average burglary costs victims $2,661 in stolen property and damages. With 840,000 annual burglaries, this represents over $2 billion in losses nationwide.
