Security
Systems Reduce Burglaries...
Homes without security
systems are about 3 times more
likely to be broken into than
homes with security systems.
(Actual statistic ranges from
2.2 times to 3.1 times,
depending on the value of the
home.) Businesses without alarm
systems are 4.5 times more
likely to be burglarized than
commercial locations with
electronic security in place.
Losses due to burglary average
$400 less in residences with
security systems than for a
residence without security
systems.
Source:
Simon Hakim, Temple University,
215-204-7476
Where Burglars
Enter a House...
One survey in Pennsylvania
showed that 81 percent of
residential intrusions occur
through the first floor. 34
percent of burglars entered
through the front door;23
percent through a first-floor
window; 22 percent through the
back door; 9 percent through the
garage; 4 percent entered
through a basement;4 percent
through an unlocked entrance; 2
percent through a storage
area;and only 2 percent entered
anywhere on the second floor. A
study in Connecticut showed that
12 percent of burglaries
occurred through an UNLOCKED
door and that in 41 percent of
alarmed homes that were
burglarized, the security system
was not turned on.
Source:
Simon Hakim, Temple University,
215-204-7476
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Police
Believe Security Systems Reduce
Burglaries...
90 percent of police believe
alarms deter burglary attempts.
Source:
STAT Resources, Inc., Boston,
Mass., 617-734-2000
In 1994, the
International Association of
Chiefs of Police passed a Board
Resolution stating that
professionally installed and
monitored alarm systems are
useful instruments to deter
crime and provide peace of mind
for residential and business
owners. The organization also
pledged to work with the alarm
industry to help reduce the
problem of false alarms.
Source:
International Assoc. of Chiefs
of Police, Alexandria, Va.,
703-836-6767
People Feel
Safe with Security Systems...
94 percent of alarm owners
are satisfied with their alarm
systems.
Source:
Simon Hakim, Temple University,
215-204-7476
Burglar
Bars Can Kill...
From 1985 to 1991, an
average of 16 people died each
year due to burglar bars
blocking their exits from
burning homes or buildings.
Source:
Learn Not To Burn Foundation,
Quincy, Mass., 617-770-3000
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Fire & Arson
Statistics
|
What is the
Fire Threat? |
|
|
Number of
Residential
Fires in 1999 |
371,000 |
|
Number of Fire
Deaths in the
Home in 1999 |
2,895 |
|
Cost of
Residential
Fires in 1997 |
$4,565,000,000 |
|
Source: Fire
loss in the
United States
during 1999,
National Fire
Protection
Association (NFPA) |
|
Residential
Fires are Expensive and
Deadly...
About 85% of all U.S. fire
deaths occur in the home.In
2000, residential fires resulted
in over $5 billion in property
losses.
Source:
National Fire Protection
Association, Quincy, Mass.,
617-984-7274
Fires are
Linked to Products...
In 2000, smoking materials
were the leading cause of
roughly ¼ of all civilian
deaths.
Source:
National Fire Protection
Association, Quincy, Mass.,
617-984-7274
In 1997,
children playing with fire
(typically lighters and matches)
started 16,970 residential,
3,120 business, 850 car and
44,130 other residential
structure and outdoor fires.
This resulted in 284 civilian
deaths, 2,158 civilian injuries,
and more than $283.3 million in
direct property damage, mostly
from home fires.
Source:
Children Playing with Fire,
National Fire Protection
Association, January 2000,
Quincy, Mass., 617-984-7274
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Arson
Statistics
A total of
76,045 arson offenses were
reported in 1999. Structures are
the most frequent targets of
arsonists, comprising 45 percent
of the reported incidents in
1999. Residential property was
involved in 61 percent of the
structural arsons during the
year, while 43 percent of the
arsons were directed at
single-family dwellings.
In 1999, the
monetary value of property
damaged due to reported arson
averaged $10,882 per offense.
Of the arsons
cleared in 1999, 48 percent
involved only young people under
the age of 18, a higher
percentage of juvenile
involvement than for any other
crime.
Source:
1999 FBI Uniform Crime Report
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Vehicle
Theft Statistics
In 1999, 1.1
million thefts of motor
vehicles, the lowest total since
1985 were reported.
Seventy-five
percent of all motor vehicles
stolen in 1999 were automobiles.
The estimated
value of motor vehicles stolen
nationwide in 1999 was over $7
billion or $6,104 per vehicle.
The United
States most heavily populated
cities, populations 500,000 to
999,000, experienced the highest
rate of motor vehicle theft -
1,012 vehicles for every 100,000
inhabitants. Cities with fewer
than 10,000 people reported a
rate of 223 vehicle thefts per
100,000.
|
Regional
Vehicle Theft
Per 100,000
People: |
|
Western States |
506 |
|
Southern States |
439 |
|
Midwestern
States |
375 |
|
Northeastern
States |
343 |
|
|