Ever heard of “availability bias?” To put it simply, it’s when something that happens very rarely is given a very big—and constant—spotlight, ultimately giving rise to the perception that the situation is much more prevalent than it actually is. In the case of crime, most statistics are actually decreasing every year, but since the headlines only report the most extreme and violent cases, it doesn’t seem that way. Here are some facts about crime in the U.S. that might surprise you. 

Violent crime in the U.S. has fallen sharply 

According to both the FBI’s annual crime report and the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ annual crime survey, the U.S. crime rate has actually fallen drastically over the past 25 years. In the FBI’s study, the violent crime rate fell 49% between 1993 and 2017. In the BJS study, it fell 74% during the same time span. Property crime has fallen, too, by 50% and 69%, for each respective study. 

Most burglaries occur during the day

You may think that most burglars operate under the cover of darkness, but many studies (such as Charlotte University’s 2016 burglary victimization survey) show that most burglaries occur from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. When you think about it, it makes sense: someone approaching a home or apartment complex probably lives there, while someone crouching in the bushes outside at midnight clearly does not. Most people are away at work during the day, too, giving thieves a big window of time in which to operate. 

The vast majority of property crimes are unsolved 

According to FBI data, most of the crimes that are reported to police are not solved. In this case, “solved” (or “cleared”) means closed through the arrest, charging, and referral of a suspect for prosecution. In 2017, police nationwide cleared 46% of violent crimes that were reported. But for property crimes, the national clearance rate was only 18%—meaning that if your property is stolen or vandalized, there’s statistically very little chance that justice will be served. 

The most dangerous cities in the U.S. are small  

If you were asked to name the most dangerous city in the U.S., you’d probably list places like Chicago, New York City, Miami, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. But according to the FBI’s 2018 Uniform Crime Report, the #1 most dangerous city is the country is Bessemer, AL. More recognizable cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Baltimore do appear on the list; but so do smaller places like Monroe, LA; Pine Bluff, AR; Flint, MI, and Camden, NJ. 

Secure Your Charlotte Property with James Access Controls 

Charlotte might not be the most dangerous city in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean theft, vandalism, and trespassing don’t occur here. Our Charlotte access controls, video surveillance systems, automatic gates, and custom fences can protect your property and keep you and your family safe. If you’d like to learn more, call James Access Controls today for a free estimate.