In recent years, the number of burglary cases in Australia have seen an alarming increase. In 2015 alone, Australia ranked 5th on the world’s highest rates of burglary which is enough to concern most Australian citizens. The statistics are in for 2018 and if you live in Australia, the numbers are worth taking a look at. Plenty of surveys have been taken from burglars who were caught to homeowners that got robbed to evaluate a number of different factors that led to the crime.
Between 2016 to 2017, an estimated 2.5% of Australian homes have encountered burglary. The shocking surprise is that 45% of these cases weren’t reported to the police which is a very high number. Around 16% of the homeowners believe that the break-in was too insignificant to report. The lack of police reporting has led to the increased confidence of burglars breaking into homes knowing that some of the owners won’t bother reporting it to the authorities.
Here we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the 2018 statistics for home burglary in Australian households. These numbers will help you assess what provokes burglars to break inside your home and what steps you can take in order to prevent these incidents from happening.
Burglary statistics for burglary in Australian homes for 2018
The Budget Direct Home Insurance conducted a survey to evaluate a variety of different factors that can potentially contribute to burglary. Things such as home security, deterrents, and risk taking were carefully assessed to see which of these factors had the biggest impact on provoking a break-in. The survey involved 1000 households where they asked the homeowners regarding their home security and their experiences with burglary.
The survey revealed that the average Australian does not practice strong security measures and is taking unnecessary risks that make their household vulnerable to burglary. Here are the results of the survey for you to evaluate.
Lack of home security
- 55% of homeowners who were surveyed revealed that they lack any sort of home security. This makes their property prone to burglary and provokes burglars to break into their homes.
- Around 24% of homeowners were found to have installed a security system inside their home after the incident occurred. Younger-aged homeowners were discovered to be more likely to install home security after a break-in encounter.
- Of all the households surveyed, only 29.6% of homeowners have an active security system installed. 20% of homeowners deemed their neighborhoods safe which reinforced their belief that home security systems are unnecessary.
- 42% of surveyed homeowners have stated that installing a security system is superfluous and would rather invest their money on something else.
As you can see from the percentages, many Australian households lack adequate security systems to deter burglars from entering their home. Burglars are always on the lookout for new neighborhoods to target. If an area has not experienced a burglary, that doesn’t mean that it is 100% safe from a break-in. Home security systems are an important factor that many Australian homeowners should consider to reduce the risk of burglary from occurring.
Burglar deterrents
- The survey revealed that 35.7% of homeowners believe that fake security cameras are enough of a deterrent for burglars. Again, young to middle-aged owners were likely to install fake security cameras than older owners.
- 46% of residents with guard dogs like a Rottweiler or Bullmastiff believe that their guard dogs are enough to prevent burglars from entering their home. They also think that putting up a warning sign that says “beware of dogs” will have burglars think twice about going inside.
- Working alarm systems such as motion detection sensors and lights are advocated by 49.1% of homeowners according to the survey. They believe that the loud sound when the alarm triggers will send burglars running out the door.
Burglars are very keen on their surroundings. They usually inspect a neighborhood before attempting a break-in to ensure a swift escape. It’s likely that a warning sign alone won’t be enough to deter most burglars unless they can identify a sign that a dog is nearby. Barking dogs can be really helpful in deterring burglars since it alerts homeowners that a stranger is nearby.
Unnecessary risk taking
- According to the survey, around 35% of homeowners said that they leave a spare key outside of their homes.
- When a package is delivered, around 58.7% of homeowners allowed couriers to drop the packages in front of their doorsteps.
In today’s world, leaving a spare key outside your property means that you’re asking for your home to be entered by burglars. It’s generally not a good idea to leave keys underneath the doormat or attempt to hide it on pots and plants. You’ll be much better off carrying your keys instead of leaving them outside your home. If possible, have a trusted neighbor pick up your packages and have them hand it over to you once you arrive. A package left outside creates an impression that no one is around inside, prompting burglars to break into your home.
Tips on preventing burglary
Homeowners must understand that home security is of utmost importance. Even basic security measures like locking all doors and windows before leaving the house should be practiced to reduce the risk of break-ins. When no one is vacating your home for a while, it’s best to use smart LED bulbs that you can remotely control. Leave it on during the night and turn it off during the day. A home that appears vacant is likely to be targeted by most burglars so do your best to keep it looking occupied as much as possible.
Conclusion
The numbers found in the survey are very helpful to determine the steps you need to take in order to prevent break-ins from happening. Factors such as home security systems, burglar deterrents, and unnecessary risk-taking should be evaluated thoroughly to make sure you are not lacking in these areas. Use the information in the survey to implement safety measures that’ll reduce the risk of burglary in your property.
