In our attempts to prevent being victimized by burglars, we try to understand how they work. We want to know things like when burglars are most likely to strike, how they are most likely to break in, and so on. The more we dig and research, the more we realize how important it is to be vigilant day and night.
Have you ever read posts suggesting that most burglaries happen during the daylight hours, when parents are working and kids are in school? That is not quite true. The midday hours are the most common time for burglaries to occur, but fewer than one-third of all burglaries occur during that time.
Burglaries Both Day and Night
Let us look at some hard numbers. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Statistics report a total of 616,307 burglaries in 2021 – the last year for which we have numbers. Both residential and nonresidential burglaries are included in those numbers. The two most important statistics from the report are as follows:
- Residential Burglaries (Day) – 195,476.
- Residential Burglaries (Night) – 153,894.
These two particular categories are the top two in terms of volume. Some basic math demonstrates that 31% of the burglaries in 2021 were residential burglaries committed during the daytime hours. Some 24% were committed in the nighttime hours.
The numbers show that more burglaries happen during the day then at night. But the difference is not drastic enough to say that most residential burglaries occur during the day.
Better Security 24/7
So, what is the point of all of this? It is that people who are committed to preventing burglary cannot just assume their homes are not likely to be hit at night. They need to be just as diligent about nighttime prevention as they are daytime prevention. In essence, they need better security 24/7.
Home security companies like Vivint Smart Home recommend external video cameras and motion sensitive outdoor lighting. Both can be effective deterrents to burglary, regardless of when burglars try to strike. And while we are at it, deterrence is the key to prevention.
Burglars Don’t Want to Get Caught
No burglar approaches a house with the intent of getting caught. Burglars don’t wake up in the morning hoping that today will be the day they are arrested, prosecuted, and thrown in jail. They do what they do with every intention of getting away with it. So if homeowners can make it more difficult for burglars to succeed, their chances of preventing a burglary go up.
Something else to know about burglars: they like anything that will give them cover. During the daytime, they make use of trees, shrubs, and even fences to give them cover while they break in. Likewise, nighttime darkness provides a natural cover. That’s why motion-sensitive lighting is so important.
Lighting around the entire perimeter of a home takes away some of the natural cover night provides. When exterior lighting is motion sensitive, it adds another element burglars need to be concerned about. Think about it: lights suddenly going on unexpectedly gets a homeowner’s attention. And if a homeowner isn’t home, the lights might get a neighbor’s attention.
It Could Happen at Any Time
Crime data makes it clear that burglary can happen at any time. The midday hours account for the largest number of residential burglaries, but nighttime burglaries are not that far behind. The lesson here is simple: homeowners need to be diligent about preventing burglary around the clock. Burglars can strike in the overnight hours just as easily as they can in mid-morning or early afternoon. You can take that to the bank.
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