Home Burglary Statistics in the US

Burglaries in the U.S. dropped to almost 840,000 in 2023, with homes accounting for most cases. These break-ins result in higher premiums and stricter coverage limits for many homeowners.

By Nathan Paulus

Edited by Venus Zoleta

Updated: May 1, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

A burglar uses a crowbar to open a front door.

The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program classifies burglary as a property crime, alongside theft and motor vehicle offenses. Property crime rates have declined nationally, but burglaries still affect many homeowners.

Residential properties accounted for most burglaries in 2023. Most break-ins happened late at night. The South reported 41% of all cases; the West followed at 31.6%. Men aged 21 to 40 committed most offenses. Break-ins led to higher premiums and tighter coverage limits for many homeowners.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Burglaries in the U.S. fell from 908,900 in 2022 to 839,563 in 2023, continuing a downward trend from over 2.1 million cases in 2004.
New Mexico had the highest burglary rate, with 517.9 cases per 100,000 people. New Hampshire had the lowest, with 55.6 cases.
Residences accounted for 56.2% of all burglaries.
More home burglaries occurred at night, with midnight being the most targeted hour (59,975 cases).
Front doors (34%) were the most common entry point for burglaries, followed by first-floor windows (23%) and back doors (22%).
Men made up the majority of burglary offenders (63%), while victims were more evenly split between men (54%) and women (46%).
The total value of property stolen in burglaries exceeded $2.8 trillion, with miscellaneous items, cash and consumable goods among the most stolen categories.
Burglary leads to higher insurance premiums, stricter coverage limits or even policy nonrenewal based on claim history and risk factors.

Overview of Burglaries in the US

U.S. burglaries dropped 61.6% from 2004 to 2023. Authorities recorded 2.1 million cases in 2004 and 839,563 in 2023. The burglary rate per 100,000 people fell from 743.6 to 250.7. Cases rose briefly to 908,900 in 2022 before falling to 839,563 in 2023.

Property crime overall followed the same trajectory. The U.S. logged 10.5 million property crimes in 2004 and fewer than 6.5 million by 2023, with the steepest declines between 2016 and 2021.

Home Burglary by State

State-level burglary rates vary based on crime rates, urban density and economic conditions.

State	Burglary	Rate per 100,000 inhabitants
Alabama	13,009	254.7
Alaska	1,830	249.5
Arizona	17,462	235
Arkansas	12,518	408.1
California	135,369	347.4
Colorado	21,079	358.6
Connecticut	4,623	127.8
Delaware	1,823	176.7
Florida	36,874	163.1
Georgia	24,633	223.3
Hawaii	2,524	175.9
Idaho	2,767	140.8
Illinois	29,094	231.8
Indiana	14,979	218.3
Iowa	7,010	218.6
Kansas	8,622	293.2
Kentucky	10,521	232.4
Louisiana	20,443	447
Maine	1,538	110.2
Maryland	11,487	185.9
Massachusetts	9,231	131.8
Michigan	20,598	205.2
Minnesota	10,523	183.4
Mississippi	8,946	304.3
Missouri	15,563	251.2
Montana	1,929	170.3
Nebraska	3,353	169.5
Nevada	12,797	400.6
New Hampshire	779	55.6
New Jersey	14,382	154.8
New Mexico	10,950	517.9
New York	29,905	152.8
North Carolina	38,500	355.3
North Dakota	2,509	320.1
Ohio	27,516	233.5
Oklahoma	18,586	458.5
Oregon	14,383	339.8
Pennsylvania	17,896	138.1
Rhode Island	1,297	118.3
South Carolina	17,263	321.3
South Dakota	2,042	222.1
Tennessee	21,145	296.7
Texas	92,693	303.9
Utah	5,798	169.6
Vermont	898	138.7
Virginia	10,665	122.4
Washington	37,583	481
Washington, D.C.	1,668	245.7
West Virginia	3,156	178.3
Wisconsin	7,619	128.9
Wyoming	1,185	202.9

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer

New Mexico reported the highest burglary rate in 2023 at 517.9 cases per 100,000 people, ahead of Washington (481), Oklahoma (458.5) and Louisiana (447). New Hampshire recorded the lowest rate at 55.6.

The South's 41% share of all burglaries outpaced its 38.9% share of the U.S. population. The West followed at 31.6%, and the Midwest (17.8%) and Northeast (9.6%) made up the rest.

California logged the most burglaries of any state in 2023 at 135,369, ahead of Texas (92,693) and North Carolina (38,500). Arkansas (408.1 per 100,000) and Colorado (358.6) ranked higher per capita than either of those larger states.

Frequent Burglary Locations

Residences accounted for more than half of all burglaries in 2023, more than any other property type. Commercial properties, storage facilities and specialty locations made up the remainder.

Location	Reported Burglaries
Home	383,294
Commercial property	42,508
Storage facility	37,982
Other	33,762
Specialty store	24,708
Restaurant	23,358
Parking facility	21,750
Construction site	12,979
Convenience store	12,397
Department store	12,283

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer

Home Burglaries by Time of Day

Burglaries split nearly evenly between A.M. (48.64%) and P.M. (49.76%) hours; 1.6% had no recorded time. Midnight logged the most break-ins at 59,975 cases. 6 a.m. recorded the fewest at 18,293.

The 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. window accounted for 68,504 cases, the highest afternoon total. Nearly 50,000 incidents occurred between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Common Entry Points for Burglary

The front door accounts for 34% of break-ins through forced entry or unlocked access. First-floor windows and back doors are also frequent targets.

Unsecured garages, basements and second-story windows are less common but still targeted.

Burglary Demographics

Men accounted for most burglary offenders in 2023, with 429,865 arrests. Victims were more evenly distributed by gender, with 574,861 total cases. Most offenders were adults aged 21 to 40, while victims included all age groups, with the highest concentration among adults aged 31 to 40.

Victims and Offenders by Sex

Burglary impacts both men and women, but most offenders are male. Men accounted for 63% of burglary arrests, while women made up 14%. Among victims, 54% (309,618) were male, and 46% (261,509) were female.

Sex Category	Offenders	Victims
Male	270,799	309,618
Female	62,152	261,509
Unknown sex	96,914	3,734
TOTAL	429,865	574,861

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer

Victims and Offenders by Age

Most burglary offenders are 21 to 40 years old and account for 38% of arrests. Juveniles under 16 make up 4% of arrests. Offenders over 60 are the smallest group at 2%. Victims come from a wider age range: adults 31 to 40 account for 11% and those 66 and older make up 14%.

Age Group	Offenders	Victims
10 and under	1,346	2,736
11–15	17,312	3,150
16–20	32,708	19,515
21–25	39,050	47,806
26–30	41,488	57,668
31–35	43,875	63,321
36–40	37,516	60,622
41–45	26,026	54,618
46–50	19,732	47,351
51–55	12,064	46,843
56–60	11,003	45,199
61–65	3,930	39,854
66 and over	3,413	78,566
Unknown age	140,402	7,612
TOTAL	429,865	574,861

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer

Stolen and Recovered Items in Burglaries

Burglaries resulted in over $2.8 trillion in stolen property, with miscellaneous items like small electronics and collectibles accounting for $1.47 trillion. Cash thefts exceeded $351 billion, but only 5% was recovered. Vehicles had a better recovery rate, with $45 billion retrieved from the $194 billion stolen. Only 4% of household goods and 5% of office equipment were recovered.

How Burglary Affects Home Insurance

Burglary affects home insurance costs beyond the value of stolen items. Break-ins trigger higher premiums, stricter coverage limits or policy nonrenewal. Filing a burglary claim increases future premiums and can complicate policy renewal.

Premiums may increase

Filing a burglary claim increases your risk profile, which raises premiums. Multiple claims increase the likelihood of rate hikes or stricter coverage terms.

Filing too many claims may cancel the policy

Frequent burglary claims can prompt your insurer to drop your coverage. That makes finding future coverage harder and more expensive.

Deductible affects the payout

Insurance covers losses only after your deductible is met. If the stolen property’s value is lower than or close to your deductible, filing a claim may not be financially beneficial.

Coverage limits may not replace everything

Standard home insurance covers theft only up to certain limits, especially for jewelry, electronics and cash. If you own high-value items, you may need extra coverage to avoid out-of-pocket losses.

Home location and security measures affect insurance rates

Insurers evaluate local crime rates when determining premiums. Homes with security systems, monitored alarms or reinforced entry points qualify for discounts that offset rate increases.

Burglary claims raise your risk profile with insurers. Before filing, homeowners should weigh the claim cost against their deductible, secure remaining valuables and consider upgrading their security system.

Home Burglary FAQ

What is burglary?

Burglary is unlawfully entering a structure to commit theft or another crime. Unlike robbery, it doesn't require a confrontation or a victim being present. The FBI classifies it as a property crime. State definitions vary.

What is the difference between home invasion and burglary?

Home invasions involve forced entry while occupants are home, usually to harm or intimidate them. Burglary is unlawful entry to commit a crime, whether or not anyone is present.

How common are house burglaries in the U.S.?

Authorities reported 839,563 burglaries in 2023, a 61.6% drop from 2.1 million in 2004. Rates vary by state. New Mexico leads at 517.9 cases per 100,000; New Hampshire has the lowest rate at 55.6.

Which state has the most home burglaries?

New Mexico had the highest burglary rate in 2023 at 517.9 cases per 100,000 people. Washington (481), Oklahoma (458.5) and Louisiana (447) followed. New Hampshire recorded the lowest rate, 55.6 per 100,000.

What should you do if your home is burglarized?

Call the police immediately and avoid touching potential evidence. Document your losses with photos and receipts and file an insurance claim. Then upgrade your security system.

Does home insurance cover burglary?

Most homeowners and renters insurance policies cover burglary losses, from stolen items to property damage. Deductibles and coverage limits apply. Jewelry, electronics and cash that exceed policy limits need additional coverage through riders or endorsements.

How can you protect your home from burglary?

Install security systems with motion-detection cameras and reinforced locks. Keep doors and windows locked and use light timers when you're away. Avoid leaving expensive items visible from outside.

Related Content

About Nathan Paulus

Nathan Paulus is Head of Content and SEO at MoneyGeek, where he leads content strategy and produces original data research across insurance, consumer costs, transportation safety, housing, public policy, and personal finance. He also reviews published studies for methodology, source quality and factual accuracy before they reach readers.

Research and Analysis

In nearly six years at MoneyGeek, Paulus has published more than 100 original studies and explanatory guides. His insurance research includes 50-state comparisons of health care outcomes, costs and access; an analysis of how uninsured rates track with state Medicaid expansion decisions and electoral patterns; full-coverage auto rate analyses across major insurers in all 50 states; and a study of how premium trends track with industry underwriting losses, with combined ratio data sourced from Fitch Ratings, AM Best and Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI figures. His research also covers vehicle pricing trends across the U.S. new car market, summer traffic fatality rates by state, homeowner underinsurance ratios using mortgage and policy data, and housing affordability across all 50 states.

His research has been cited by Bloomberg, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Fast Company, the San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today and NBC Los Angeles. Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale have also referenced his work.

Career

Growing up, Paulus developed an early interest in personal finance through his grandmother, who emphasized saving over earning as the foundation of financial stability. Her framing still shows up in how he writes about money for people without a financial background.

Paulus joined MoneyGeek in July 2020 as Director of Content Marketing. In that role, he led the content team and directed data journalism production across insurance and personal finance verticals. He was promoted to Head of Marketing and Communications in December 2023, where he took on digital PR and communications strategy. He has held his current role as Head of Content and SEO since January 2025.

Before MoneyGeek, he served as Director of Content Marketing and SEO at Ventrix Advertising. There, he helped build two content sites from scratch, contributed to link-building programs that secured more than 1,500 unique referring domains within a year, and co-managed a marketing team of more than 20 people. Earlier, he spent two and a half years at ABUV Media, moving up from Marketing Research Analyst to Senior Marketing Tactics Analyst, where he built his grounding in audience research, content strategy and SEO.

Read Full Bio »

Sources

ADT. "How Do Burglars Break Into Houses?." Accessed December 30, 2025.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Crime Data Explorer." Accessed December 30, 2025.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Crime Data Explorer: Expanded Property Crime Data." Accessed December 30, 2025.