$15.8 billion. That’s the amount of losses suffered by victims of property crime in the United States in 2019. And that’s just the crimes that were reported to police, based on the latest FBI’s “Crime in the United States, 2019” report.
The 2019 National Crime Victimization Survey from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) shows another 12,818,000 unreported burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, and larceny-thefts affecting millions of people nationwide.
Jumping back to the FBI’s report, “Crime in the United States” is the national repository for crime data reported to law enforcement in more than 18,500 jurisdictions — including property crime.
Here’s a high-level breakdown on reported property crime from the 2019 report (the most current data available):
1.1 million burglaries (1,117,696)
721,885 motor vehicles thefts
5 million larceny-thefts (5,086,096)
Estimated losses: $15.8 billion
Rate these crimes are solved nationally: 17.2%
It’s valuable to see crime rates on a national level. Still, they may not really resonate without knowing where in the U.S. they are happening, and the states in which they happen most (especially if that state is yours).
We’ve compiled the burglary rates across all 50 states. See how yours measures up.
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As you can see, burglaries can and do happen anywhere. The FBI warns against using this data to rank locales and law enforcement agencies, because so many factors impact crime from place to place. Based only on the home burglary statistics above, the 10 states with the highest burglary rates are (from highest rate to lowest):
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- North Carolina
- Nevada
- Alaska
Burglary rates for all states (from highest to lowest)
| STATE | BURGLARY RATE* |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | 696.8 |
| Oklahoma | 671.7 |
| Mississippi | 627.0 |
| Arkansas | 599.6 |
| Louisiana | 579.0 |
| South Carolina | 533.4 |
| Alabama | 531.9 |
| North Carolina | 519.1 |
| Nevada | 503.5 |
| Alaska | 487.1 |
| Washington | 453.6 |
| Tennessee | 437.4 |
| Missouri | 430.4 |
| Arizona | 394.3 |
| Texas | 392.8 |
| California | 386.1 |
| Hawaii | 377.2 |
| Ohio | 375.5 |
| Georgia | 372.1 |
| Iowa | 371.1 |
| Oregon | 349.1 |
| Colorado | 348.4 |
| Kentucky | 345.7 |
| Kansas | 342.7 |
| North Dakota | 342.2 |
| West Virginia | 328.7 |
| Indiana | 323.7 |
| Delaware | 304.8 |
| South Dakota | 299.1 |
| Florida | 295.2 |
| Michigan | 286.1 |
| Minnesota | 282.4 |
| Maryland | 278.9 |
| Utah | 276.7 |
| Idaho | 271.7 |
| Montana | 270.1 |
| District Of Columbia | 261.1 |
| Nebraska | 245.3 |
| Wyoming | 241.2 |
| Rhode Island | 219.1 |
| Wisconsin | 217.6 |
| Vermont | 204.3 |
| New Jersey | 184.6 |
| Pennsylvania | 182.4 |
| Connecticut | 180.7 |
| Massachusetts | 179.0 |
| Maine | 174.8 |
| Virginia | 162.8 |
| New York | 141.9 |
| Puerto Rico | 134.4 |
| New Hampshire | 126.3 |
| *Rates per 1,000 inhabitants |
The true sum of damage done is greater than the estimated dollar value of $15.8 billion. Many of these families experienced a scary and possibly traumatic event, possibly in their own homes. While we can’t erase these statistics, there are solutions to the problems they underscore. Taking a proactive approach to security may be the best way to help deter property crime and achieve the peace of mind we all deserve.
Call now to learn how Guardian helps protect homes and businesses.
More specifically, investing in a smart home security system — and advertising that fact with yard signs — can make a difference. A 2013 survey of over 400 convicted burglars found that 83% of burglars looked for signs of a burglar alarm system when choosing a target, and most of them (60%) would change their minds if they saw one.
Help protect your home from burglaries
Guardian Protection can help you reduce your chances of being burglarized. Give us a call to talk to a Guardian Protection home security expert.
