How Often Do Burglars Return?

2020 Update 

Although more than a year old, all of the information in this article is still relevant. Learning how often burglars return can be important; scroll down to find out how.

If you watch a lot of TV shows and movies, chances are you’ve heard of the saying, “Criminals always return to the scene of the crime.” While it doesn’t make sense for a criminal to return to the crime scene, the truth is that this occurs far more frequently than you think. 

Many studies have shown that if an individual has been a victim of a robbery, it is likely that the burglar  will return and rob the house  again. In fact, some burglars have admitted to targeting and robbing the  same  house multiple times. Also, if your home is burglarized, other homes in the neighborhood  are at a greater risk of being robbed as well. This also means that if your neighbor was recently robbed, your home may be next. 

If you’ve recently been the victim of a burglary, here is some information about how often burglars return. That way, you will be able to take the necessary precautions to protect your home from future break-ins. 

How Often Do Burglars Return? 

According to several studies,  50 percent of repeat victims  had their homes robbed twice within a month or two. Not only are burglars prone to returning to the scene of a crime, but they are also prone to doing so without waiting for long. But why do burglars return to the same home? After all, it doesn’t make much sense to return to the scene of the crime, especially since the homeowner might be taking more precautions after the first robbery. However, it turns out that there are many reasons why burglars choose to rob the same house twice. 

1. Familiarity with the Layout 

One reason a burglar will return to the same house a second time is that they are already familiar with the layout of the home. If a burglar doesn’t return to the same home, they may rob a home nearby that appears to possess a similar layout. Knowing the layout of a home already makes it far easier for a burglar to successfully burglarize a home without getting caught. 

2. Homeowners Replace Expensive Items Quickly 

After getting robbed, most homeowners will take the time to replace their expensive items quickly. This is particularly true when it comes to essential items, such as TVs or computers. Since a burglar can reasonably assume that you will replace these items, they know that they can return to your home to steal them again. Oftentimes, the replacement items will be more expensive or pricier than those that were originally stolen. 

3. Knowledge of Exit and Entrance Routes 

If a robber has already burglarized your home, they know how to get in and out of it, making robbing your house easier the second time around. 

4. Lack of Protective Measures 

If a burglar successfully robbed your house the first time, they know that your home lacks  protective measures. Even after a robbery, many homeowners neglect to put protective measures in place. 

5. Valuables 

A burglar will know what valuables they left behind during the first robbery. Therefore, robbers may return to your home to try to steal what they missed the first time around. 

Any homeowner who has been the victim of a robbery should take precautions as soon as possible to ensure it doesn’t happen again. For more information about monitored home security, don’t hesitate to contact Brinks Home Security™ for a smart home security quote. 

Prepare for the Unexpected with a Home Security System 

Are you on the fence about installing a security system? Worried that the software will be too difficult to use or the equipment too expensive? Security system yard signs and stickers can serve as a deterrent to would be thieves, and a professional install for your smart home security solution will ensure you know how to properly operate your system to get the most out of it. 

Brinks Home provides families with affordable security packages that include award-winning equipment. Each system is professionally monitored 24/7/365, so you can rest easy knowing you and your loved ones are protected at all hours of the day.  

Lauren Slade is a Dallas-based writer and editor.