Residents Urged to Attend Neighborhood Watch Informational Meeting

HESPERIA, Calif. (Press Release) — Summer has officially begun which means beaches, barbecues and—burglaries. More burglaries occur in the summer months than in the winter months.

“A study completed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics showed a spike in burglary during summer months,” said Diane Smith, High Desert Association of REALTORS® (HDAOR) Executive Officer. “The study showed on average, household burglary rates were approximately 11% lower in winter, 9% lower in spring, and about 6% lower in fall than in summer (https://www.protectyourhome.com/blog/articles/2017/may/when-do-most-burglaries-occur) The most common hours for a burglary to occur are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

In response, as HDAOR has done since January 2015, in cooperation with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department a Neighborhood Watch Informational meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 10, 2017. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Hesperia Police Station, 15840 Smoke Tree Street, Hesperia for all High Desert residents so that they can learn how Neighborhood Watch can make it difficult for burglars to act.

Smith stressed that statistics about home burglaries show that law-abiding citizens need to take steps to improve their personal safety and security. For example:

1. Every year there are approximately 2.2 million burglaries in the United States, which averages out to a burglary every 14 to 15 seconds.
2. Homes are targeted in at least 70% of burglaries.
3. The average arrest rate for burglaries in the United States is only 13%. This means that if your home is broken into, the chances of recovering your stolen possessions or of the perpetrator doing time for the break-in are small.
4. Most burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and more occur during warm weather than during cold weather.
5. A typical burglary lasts from 90 seconds to 12 minutes.
6. Single-family, detached homes are the most likely targets for burglars. This makes sense because there are generally more access points and more places for a burglar to hide.
7. The typical burglar lives within 2 miles of the victim, and may in fact know the victim. This is one more reason to be careful about who you let into your house.
8. Regionally, the south accounts for 47% of burglaries. The Midwest and west each account for 21% of burglaries, and the northeast accounts for the remaining 11%.
9. Homes in the center of the block are more likely to be burglarized than corner houses. This may be due to the extra visibility of houses on corner lots.
10. Most burglars are under age 25.
11. Students are most likely to be burglary victims (perhaps due to possession of the latest electronics or the company they keep, since most burglars are under 25), with elderly people next most likely (possibly due to possession of prescription medications). Middle-aged people are least likely to be burglary victims.
12. Over half (56%) of burglars are white, and 31% are Hispanic.
13. Almost all (95%) burglars are male. Most burglars already have a rap sheet due to robbery, assault, or drug-related offenses.
14. A home without a home security system is three times more likely to be broken into than a home with a security system.

Throughout its history, the High Desert Association of REALTORS® has always strived especially hard to support the needs of the High Desert communities it serves. For more information about the Neighborhood Watch Informational meeting contact the High Desert Association of Realtors at (760) 244-8841 or Sheriff’s Services Specialist Jackie Chambers at (760) 947-1549.