Modern home security cameras and smart systems are well-equipped to watch over our homes — I should know, I’ve spent years testing more models than I can count. The biggest advantage is that they can watch your home when you’re not there, like on a summer vacation or asleep at night. But when is your home the most vulnerable?
I took a look. It turns out that burglars tend to break into houses or look for vulnerabilities at a few specific times. Knowing when can help you stay safer and pick the most effective arming and disarming settings for your security system. I’m also quite surprised at some of the most common times and why burglars chose them — here’s what I learned.
Read more: What Burglars Look for When Choosing Homes to Break Into
1. The middle of the day (especially early afternoon)
Thieves have a lot to gain by acting in the middle of the day.
If you want to know when burglars try to break in to homes, it’s a good idea to ask them. KGW8 out of Portland, Oregon, did just that, interviewing more than 80 (caught) burglars to find out how and when they struck.
The answer? Most chose the middle of the day, the hours before or after noon: Homeowners are most likely to be gone at work in the day, thieves have great visibility when exploring a new yard or house, and it’s easier to pretend to be a lost friend or family member if they get caught in broad daylight.
Burglars commonly strike in the early afternoon — one specifically said between “12:30pm and 2:30 p.m.” People who go home for lunch or errands have most likely finished and are back to work during these hours, so there’s a greater chance the home will be empty. Others KGW8 interviewed preferred the morning when there’s also a guarantee people will be at work. That’s similar to other studies that report burglaries are most likely to occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Curious about what burglars are after? Most hunt down cash, jewelry, medications and items that can easily sell for money — notably guns and small electronics. Any signs that these items exist in a house may attract watchful thieves. They also reported that security systems and big dogs were big deterrents (although we don’t suggest getting a dog for security purposes).
2. During the summer (between June and August)
Burglars are caught trying to break in far more often in summer than winter.
Burglaries are lowest at the height of winter, and highest during the hottest summer months. Since burglary is often a crime of opportunity and requires quickly casing residential neighborhoods, it makes sense that thieves would prefer longer, warmer days. It’s also a lot harder to break into homes if there’s ice or snow everywhere.
That’s why research from places like Arizona State University shows that burglaries reach their height in August, and are generally on the rise between June and August when the weather is warmest.
3. At midnight
Amazon’s Blink Wired Floodlight cam in action.
We know, we just said that burglaries are most common during the warmest, brightest times of day. But not everything is so simple. Research from companies like Vivint has shown that burglaries also spike around midnight, with data showing around 6% of burglaries occurring at 12 a.m.
This is an interesting spike because late evening and early morning hours are the least likely times for burglaries. There’s just something about midnight that makes some burglars think it’s a good time to strike. They may also believe that homeowners are asleep at this time, or that it’s easier to hide in the dark.
Read more: The Best Tips to Prevent Burglars and Break-Ins
With this info now in your brain, you’re ready to make great decisions about when to arm your security system or when to make sure your smart lights and security camera floodlights are ready to work. It’s also a good idea to make sure your smart locks are locked during these times because — you guessed it — most burglars start by simply trying the front door.
To become a master of your home security, check out our guide on the best places to put security cameras, common home security myths you should stop believing, and what to do if someone you’re living with is the one stealing.
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