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Crime facts at a glance

sample chart

Additional crime facts at a glance

After many years of declining, burglary rates have stablized.

To view data, click on the chart.

Burglary Trends Chart [D]

Note:  The National Crime Victimization Survey redesign was implemented in 1993; the area
with the lighter shading is before the redesign and the darker area after the redesign. The data before 1993 are adjusted to make them comparable with data collected since the redesign. The adjustment methods are described in Criminal Victimization, 1973-95. Estimates for 1993 and beyond are based on collection year while earlier estimates are based on data year. For additional information about the methods used, see Criminal Victimization, 2008.

Victimization rate trends exclude NCVS estimates for 2006 because of methodological inconsistencies between the data for that year and the data for other years. Changes to the NCVS and their impact upon the survey's estimates in 2006 are discussed in the Criminal Victimization, 2006 Technical Notes.
Source: The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
Ongoing since 1972, this survey of households interviews about 147,300 persons age 12 and older
in 82,900 households each year about their victimizations from crime.
Household burglary - Unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of a residence. This crime usually, but not always, involves theft. The illegal entry may be by force, such as breaking a window or slashing a screen, or may be without force by entering through an unlocked door or an open window. As long as the person entering has no legal right to be present in the structure a burglary has occurred. Furthermore, the structure need not be the house itself for a burglary to take place; illegal entry of a garage, shed, or any other structure on the premises also constitutes household burglary. If breaking and entering occurs in a hotel or vacation residence, it is still classified as a burglary for the household whose member or members were staying there at the time the entry occurred.
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Page last revised on September 3, 2009