Burglary

Breaking and entry

Nature

Burglary is surreptitiously entering or remaining in a building with the intent of committing a crime, whether theft, rape, robbery or kidnapping.

Background

Burglary emerged as a recognized social concern with the rise of urbanization in the 19th century, when increased population density and wealth disparities highlighted its prevalence. International crime statistics, first systematically collected in the early 20th century, revealed burglary as a persistent global issue, prompting comparative studies and policy responses. Over time, technological advances and cross-border criminal networks have further complicated the understanding and management of burglary worldwide.

Incidence

Neglecting national variations in the basis of statistical estimates, figures from Interpol indicate that in 1990 there were approximately 8,452,000 cases of breaking and entering reported from 91 countries worldwide, namely 279.0 per 100,000 population; some 1,527,000 (namely 18%) were claimed to have been resolved. In the UK over 1 million burglaries are reported each year. Burglaries account for a quarter of all crime, and are increasing a rate of 9% in 1993 (house burglaries by 12%). In 75% of burglaries where property is stolen, the average loss is an estimated £1,000. Less than 5% of stolen goods are actually recovered. Approximately 400,000 of the 1 million burglaries in the UK are facilitated by unlocked doors and insecure windows.

Counter-claim

Burglary is vastly overblown as a societal concern. In reality, it affects a tiny fraction of people compared to issues like healthcare or education. Most communities are safe, and modern security systems make break-ins rare. The media sensationalizes isolated incidents, creating unnecessary fear. Resources spent on combating burglary would be better used elsewhere. Frankly, worrying about burglary is a distraction from far more pressing and impactful problems facing society today.