Data and research
Burglary figures come from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, read per state and per police agency, or, where a city's FBI data is missing or lags, from the police department's own published figures. Prices come from each provider's published pricing page, and fees from city ordinances and alarm offices. Every page lists its sources with the date we accessed them, so any figure can be checked and cited.
Datasets
- US Burglary Statistics: The Numbers and Where They Come FromUS burglary counts and rates from FBI estimated crime data (2025) and the BJS victimization survey (2024), with the reporting caveats that matter.
- States With the Highest Burglary Rates (FBI Data)New Mexico leads the nation at 404.9 burglaries per 100,000 people in 2025 FBI data. Full 50-state table, rates, and what the numbers actually mean.
- The Subscription Creep Index: Security Plan Prices 2020-2026Documented security subscription price hikes from Ring, Blink, Nest Aware, Arlo, and Wyze, with old prices, new prices, dates, and sources for every increase.
- US City Burglary Rates: The 15 Largest Cities Compared (FBI Data)2025 FBI burglary rates for America's 15 largest cities: Houston tops the list at 486.5 per 100,000, New York and San Diego run lowest. Data and caveats.
Fees and prices
- Home Security Cost Per Month: Every Plan Priced (2026)What home security really costs per month in 2026: monitoring and subscription prices for 20 brands, from $2.99 camera plans to $55 pro monitoring, verified.
- How Much Does a False Alarm Cost? City Fine Schedules ComparedFalse alarm fines range from $0 for a first offense to $500 per event depending on the city. Verified fee schedules from LA, Seattle, Phoenix, and more.
- Alarm Permits Explained: Who Needs One and What They CostMany US cities require a permit to operate a home alarm system. What permits cost, who is exempt, and what happens without one, from official city pages.
Burglary research
- How Do Burglars Choose Houses? What the Research ShowsBurglars pick targets on familiarity, occupancy, visibility, accessibility, and expected reward. What DOJ-funded research and offender interviews found.
- When Do Most Burglaries Happen? What the Dated US Data ShowsThe daytime burglary finding is real but old. The national US timing evidence dates to the 1990s, and here is exactly what it does and does not support.
- Do Burglars Return to the Same House? The Repeat Burglary EvidenceRepeat burglary is real and fast: research finds most repeats happen within weeks. What the DOJ-funded studies show, and how strong the US evidence is.
- Do Security Signs Actually Deter Burglars? The EvidenceWhat burglar surveys and victimization data actually show about yard signs, alarm decals, and dummy alarms as deterrents. The honest evidence, with sources.
City data (29 cities)
Burglary counts from FBI agency data or the city's own police data, local alarm rules and false alarm fees, one page per city.
- Home Security in Albuquerque: Burglary Trends, the $25 Permit, and $150 False Alarm FeesAlbuquerque residential burglary is down 17% in 2026 per APD. Alarm permits cost $25 a year and false alarms $150 after the third. Data and decisions.
- Home Security in Atlanta: Crime Trends, Free Alarm Registration, and False Alarm FinesAtlanta burglary is down 20% in 2026 per APD data. Alarm registration is free but required, and false alarm fines reach $500. The data and how to choose.
- Home Security in Austin: Burglary Numbers, Alarm Permits, and CostsAustin burglary data from the FBI for 2023 to 2025, the city alarm permit rule and jurisdiction catch, the $220 unpermitted response fee, and costs.
- Home Security in Baltimore: Burglary Rates, Alarm Registration, and CostsBaltimore burglary data from the FBI, the city's free but mandatory alarm registration, false alarm fees from $75, and the five-alarm no-response rule.
- Home Security in Charlotte: Burglary Rates, Permit Rules, and CostsCharlotte burglary data from the FBI, CMPD's mandatory alarm permit that gates police dispatch, and what monitored home security really costs in 2026.
- Home Security in Chicago: Burglary Numbers, False Alarm Fines, and CostsChicago burglary counts from the city's own open data portal for 2023 to 2025, the false burglar alarm fine schedule, and what home security costs.
- Home Security in Columbus: Burglary Rates, Costs, and What WorksColumbus burglary numbers from FBI data, the city's suspended alarm registration and false alarm fee program, and what monitored security costs in 2026.
- Home Security in Dallas: Burglary Numbers, Alarm Permits, and CostsDallas burglary data from the FBI for 2023 to 2025, the city's $50 residential alarm permit, the published false alarm fee ladder, and security costs.
- Home Security in Denver: Burglary Rates, Permit Rules, and CostsDenver burglary data from the FBI, the city's mandatory alarm permit, false alarm rules that reduce your response priority, and security costs for 2026.
- Home Security in Detroit: Crime Data, Trends, and How to Choose a SystemDetroit logged 5,278 burglary offense records in 2025 while overall property crime fell 10%. What the city's data means for choosing a home security setup.
- Home Security in Fort Worth: Burglary Data, the $50 Alarm Permit, and What WorksFort Worth logged 2,709 home and building burglaries in 2025, and far more vehicle break-ins. Permit rules, false alarm fees, and how to pick a system.
- Home Security in Houston: Burglary Numbers, Alarm Permit Rules, and CostsHouston burglary counts from HPD's own published 2025 figures, the city's $50 residential alarm permit, the false alarm fee ladder, and security costs.
- Home Security in Indianapolis: Burglary Rates, Alarm Rules, and CostsIndianapolis burglary figures from FBI crime data, the city's no-permit alarm ordinance with escalating false alarm penalties, and security costs for 2026.
- Home Security in Jacksonville: Crime Data, Alarm Registration, and False Alarm FinesJacksonville logged 2,490 burglaries in 2025 per JSO data. Alarm registration is mandatory citywide. The fines, the data, and how to choose a system.
- Home Security in Las Vegas: What LVMPD's Numbers Say and How to Choose a SystemLVMPD reports 3,575 burglaries so far in 2026, down 21.3% from last year. What the Las Vegas data means for home security and how to pick a system.
- Home Security in Los Angeles: Burglary Numbers, Alarm Permits, and CostsLos Angeles burglary from LAPD's own 2025 NIBRS data, the mandatory alarm permit at $60, the $260 first false alarm fee, and what home security costs.
- Home Security in Memphis: Burglary Rates, Permit Rules, and CostsMemphis burglary data from the FBI, the Metro Alarm Office permit requirement, the $90 per call false alarm service charge, and security costs for 2026.
- Home Security in Miami: Burglary Rates, Permit Rules, and CostsMiami burglary data from the FBI, the City of Miami alarm permit ($82.50 to register), its false alarm fee ladder, and Florida's rule on confirming alarms.
- Home Security in Milwaukee: Burglary Rates, Verified Response, and CostsMilwaukee burglary data from the FBI, MPD's verified response policy for burglar alarms, the ban on panic alarms, and the false alarm forfeitures to expect.
- Home Security in Nashville: Burglary Rates, Alarm Registration, and CostsNashville burglary figures from FBI crime data, Metro's required $20 annual alarm registration under Code 10.60, and monitored security costs for 2026.
- Home Security in Oklahoma City: Burglary Data, Permit Rules, and What Actually WorksOklahoma City reported 3,671 burglaries in 2023. What the OKCPD data says, the city's alarm permit rules and false alarm fees, and how to pick a system.
- Home Security in Orlando: Burglary Data, Alarm Registration, and CostsOrlando burglary counts from OPD case data, the city's free mandatory alarm registration, its false alarm fines, and the state rule on confirming alarms first.
- Home Security in Philadelphia: Burglary Numbers, Alarm Registration, and CostsPhiladelphia burglary data from the FBI for 2023 to 2025, the city's mandatory $50 burglar alarm registration, the $75 excess false alarm fine, and costs.
- Home Security in Phoenix: Burglary Numbers, Alarm Permit Rules, and CostsPhoenix burglary data for 2023 and 2024, why we do not publish a 2025 count, the permit rule covering unmonitored alarms, the $96 assessment, and costs.
- Home Security in Portland: Burglary Rates, Permit Rules, and CostsPortland burglary data from the FBI, the $25 per year residential alarm permit and false alarm escalation rules, and monitored security costs for 2026.
- Home Security in Raleigh: Burglary Rates, False Alarm Rules, and CostsRaleigh burglary data from the FBI, the city's false alarm fines from $50 to $500, what its alarm ordinance requires of you, and its no-fine cancellation rule.
- Home Security in San Antonio: Burglary Numbers, Alarm Permits, and CostsSan Antonio burglary data from the FBI for 2023 to 2025, the SAPD alarm permit at $50 a year, the false alarm fee tables, and what security costs.
- Home Security in Seattle: Burglary Rates, Verified Response, and CostsSeattle burglary numbers, SPD's policy of responding only to verified alarm calls, the city's published false alarm fee rates, and security costs in 2026.
- Home Security in Tucson: Crime Data, the $20 Alarm Registration, and False Alarm FeesTucson logged 1,894 burglary incidents in 2025. Alarm registration costs $20, false alarms hit $100 each after the first. The data and how to choose.