Household Burglary, 1994-2011

FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO HOUSEHOLD BURGLARY INCREASED FROM 1994 TO 2011

WASHINGTON – The median dollar value of items and cash stolen during completed household burglaries increased 54 percent from 1994 to 2011, the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced today. The median financial loss during completed burglaries in 1994 was $389 (adjusted for inflation), compared to $600 in 2011. The average dollar loss in 2011 among households that lost $1 or more was about $2,120.

Completed household burglary includes entry to a residence with force or entry without force by someone having no legal right to be on the premises.

From 1994 to 2011, the rate of all burglaries (attempted and completed) decreased 56 percent, from a peak of 63.4 to 27.6 victimizations per 1,000 U.S. households. The number of burglaries experienced by U.S. households declined 47 percent, from about 6.4 million burglaries in 1994 to about 3.4 million in 2011.

Among all completed burglaries, those involving the theft of an electronic device or household appliance increased from 28 percent in 2001 to 34 percent in 2011. From 1994 to 2011, the largest percentage of completed burglaries consistently involved the theft of personal items (such as clothing, furs, luggage, briefcases, jewelry, watches and keys) and appliances or electronics (such as TVs, DVD players, and portable electronic devices).

Of completed burglaries reported to police, the police were more likely to come when notified, take a report, gather evidence, or promise an investigation or surveillance in 2011 compared to 1994. A similar percentage of reported burglaries resulted in an arrest in 1994 (eight percent) and 2011 (10 percent).

From 1994 to 2011, the rate of completed burglary declined across most of the U.S. household characteristics that were examined. However, some types of U.S. households experienced a greater percentage decline in burglary than others. The greatest declines occurred among households in urban areas (down 63 percent), those headed by Hispanics (down 67 percent), and those with an income of $75,000 or more (down 74 percent).

The report, Household Burglary, 1994-2011 (NCJ 241754), was written by Jennifer Hardison Walters, Andrew Moore, and Marcus Berzofsky of RTI International and Lynn Langton of BJS. The report, related documents and additional information about the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ statistical publications and programs can be found on the BJS website at http://www.bjs.gov/.

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The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at http://www.ojp.gov.