What is the most common time to get robbed?

Asked by: Tad Crooks | Last update: February 18, 2026

Score: 4.9/5 (3 votes)

The most common time for home burglaries is during the daytime, specifically between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when people are typically at work or school, though some sources point to late afternoons (5-7 p.m.) or early mornings (8-9 a.m.) as peak times, with summer months (June-August) seeing increased activity. Burglars often target days when homes are likely empty, relying on opportunity rather than elaborate plans, with many break-ins happening through unlocked doors or windows.

What time do most robberies occur?

1: What Time Does Most Robberies Happen? Robberies happen in both daytime and nighttime. It depends upon the location, situation, human activity around the target, and the area of interest where the burglars want to strike. Specific hours of robberies usually fall between 9 p.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.

What time are you most likely to be burgled?

Most burglaries happen during the daytime, primarily between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when people are at work or school, with peak times often after lunch, around 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., because homes are empty and darkness isn't a factor, though some occur at night as well. The summer months (June-August) see more break-ins due to vacations, and February often has the fewest.

What are the odds of getting robbed?

The declining robbery rates, however, are no reason to get comfortable. Robbery is still the second-most common type of violent crime, next only to aggravated assault. Robber impacts Americans at a population-adjusted rate of 86.2 per 100,000, which is still a concerning number.

Do burglars break in when you are sleeping?

Burglars break in whenever they think they can get in and out with something of value and not get caught. Most often, they do break in at night, as there are fewer people around to observe their actions.

How Organized Burglary Gangs Actually Work | How Crime Works | Insider

38 related questions found

What do burglars hate most?

7 things that burglars hate

Hidden valuables. Most thieves tend to head right to the master bedroom when they are looking for valuables. ...
Strategic landscaping. ...
Lights – inside or out. ...
A car in the driveway. ...
Dowel rods. ...
Caution. ...
Helpful neighbors.

Where do burglars never look?

1) Library or a Study Room. Home library or office room with bookshelves. This is an excellent spot to stash your valuables, especially if you have lots of books. It becomes a tedious task for thieves to search between the books, especially when they only have a short amount of time to pull off the theft.

What state is #1 in crime?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data.

Where do robbers look first?

The bedroom is often searched first. Living rooms and studies are also often ransacked first. Most thieves are familiar with the usual hiding places for money: In DVD cases.

What houses do robbers target?

Which homes do burglars target?

Single-family detached homes in the middle of the neighborhood (as opposed to corner units, which are less likely to be burglarized).
Homes next to empty lots or without nearby neighbors.
High privacy hedges, bushes, and walls around the property.

What is the most common entry for burglars?

One of the most common entry points for burglars is a ground level window at the rear side of a home. That's why you should use the same security measures on your windows as you would on your doors. Screens on windows do not guarantee the security of the window.

What time of night has the most crime?

Below are the most active hours for each type of crime and the percentage of crimes that took place during those peak hours:

Arson: Midnight to 3 a.m. (27.6%)
Assault: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (21.8%)
Battery: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. (19.9%)
Burglary: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (20.4%)
Criminal mischief/damage: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (21.1%)

Does leaving a light on at night deter burglars?

Leaving on lights at all times doesn't seem to be an effective way to deter crimes. With a little planning and some home automation equipment, you can use lighting to your advantage and get better peace of mind.

How likely is my house to be broken into?

Homes without security systems are 300% more likely to be targeted. Homes without any form of security system are a prime target for burglary. In 2023, homes lacking a security system were 300% more likely to be broken into than those with one.

How can I deter burglars?

Taking simple measures, such as locking your windows, leaving indoor lights on a timer, double or deadlocking your doors, and having exterior lights on sensors, can significantly reduce your chances of being burgled.

Which type of robberies has the highest average loss?

The average dollar value of property stolen per reported robbery was $1,239. The highest average dollar loss was for banks, which lost $4,410 per offense. (See Table 23.) Firearms were used in 41.4 percent of the robberies for which the UCR Program received additional information in 2010.

What is the #1 deterrent for burglars?

The best burglar deterrents combine visible technology, physical barriers, and behavioral habits, with security cameras, bright motion-sensor lighting, and alarm system signs being highly effective for appearing difficult to target. Physical deterrents like deadbolts, reinforced doors/windows, and thorny plants make entry harder, while keeping your home looking occupied (timers, organized deliveries) and trimming overgrown landscaping removes easy opportunities for thieves.

Where to hide your safe?

Ideal Locations to Place Your Safe in a Plain Sight

In closet. The closet is one of the best places to hide your safe. ...
In a wall. Wall-mounted safes are a classic because they are easy to place in cavities. ...
Behind artwork. ...
Under flooring. ...
Under a laundry hamper. ...
Behind a sliding door. ...
Under the mattress. ...
In the air vent.

Where are the worst stash spots?

The Worst Place to Stash Your Valuables

Front Door. We've all heard the advice about keeping a spare key “just in case,” but hiding one near your front door is practically an open invitation. ...
Entryway. ...
Bedrooms. ...
Freezer. ...
Bathrooms. ...
Cookie Jar. ...
Home Office. ...
Portable Safes.

Which US state is safest?

Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire consistently rank as the safest states in the U.S., according to recent studies by WalletHub and others, often due to low violent crime rates, strong financial stability, and good road safety, with Maine and Utah also frequently appearing in the top five. These rankings consider multiple factors, including personal safety (crime), financial security (unemployment, poverty), road safety (fatalities), workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.

Which state is easiest on crime?

Top 10 Safest States in America

Idaho. ...
Rhode Island. ...
Connecticut. ...
New Jersey. ...
Kentucky. ...
Massachusetts. ...
West Virginia. ...
Iowa. In Iowa, the violent crime rate is 287 per 100,000 residents and the property crime rate is fine at 1,331 per 100,000 residents.

What state has little to no crime?

While rankings vary slightly by source and metrics (violent vs. property crime), New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont consistently appear as states with the lowest overall crime rates in recent analyses (2025-2026), often leading due to very low violent crime and property offenses, including burglary and assault.

Where not to hide money in your house?

Hiding Places to Avoid:

areas that can damage your valuables with water or invasive matter, such as the water tank of a toilet, inside a mayonnaise jar that still has mayonnaise in it, or a paint can filled with paint. ...
a jewelry box. ...
your desk drawer, bedside drawer, or underwear drawer. ...
inside CD cases.

What is a good hiding spot?

Hollowed-out or removable building components: Think wainscoting, floor panels, door jambs, windowsills, and cabinet doors. There are both products you can purchase and ways you can make your existing components functional as a hiding place for valuables.

What is a secret hiding place called?

hideout. A hideout is a secret place where someone can take refuge. Criminals or outlaws often lie low in a hideout to avoid being found by the police. A car thief might use his grandmother's apartment as a hideout to avoid detection.