Georgia ranks No. 4 on the FBI’s list of home thefts, and August is the busiest month for such reports, according to State Farm Insurance Company. The FBI reported more than 4,900 home theft claims in Georgia last year, placing the state behind only California, Texas and Illinois.
Nationally, a home is broken into every 15 seconds, according to the FBI, and those losses exceeded $3.6 billion last year. Traditionally, the Christmas season has been the prime season for home thefts, but August surpassed it in recent years.
State Farm reported it handled 7,880 claims nationally last year in August. That topped holiday months of December (7,673 claims) and January (7,660). Summer vacations and homes left vacant during the start of the school year were the likely reasons, according to State Farm.
State Farm spokesman Justin Tomczak said simple precautions could reduce the risk. “August is a popular month for thieves, and Georgians should take precautions to avoid falling victim. Taking common sense steps to reduce your risk is a smart move during the month of August, and throughout the year,” he said in a release.
He said traditional steps, such as keeping track of keys, not hiding an extra key in an obvious place and keeping valuables out of sight, remain important. But technology has added some new steps. Not posting vacation plans on social media can keep from notifying would-be burglars that a home is empty.
Experts also suggest making a home look occupied when a family is on vacation. Tomczak suggested not allowing mail or newspapers to pile up, having a neighbor roll out trash cans on collection days and making sure the lawn is maintained. An automatic timer to turn on and off lights and the TV also can give the impressing the home is occupied.
