Has Crime gone up during the COVID pandemic and quarantine?

As we have all been in quarantine you may have been wondering if crime has gone up or not and maybe even worried about the safety of your home, family, or business location.

There have been shortages of several necessities like toilet paper, eggs, milk, or meat. There have even been shortages of guns and ammo. These shortages can lead some to a scarcity mentality and cause some added concern for protection and safety.

Combine the shortages with lots of empty vacation homes, businesses, and all kids out of school for an undetermined period of time, and there is a recipe for some potential increases in vandalism and theft. With police departments halting their misdemeanor arrests there could be less concern for being caught in some cities, making it an opportunity that criminals could not pass up.

You may also have heard of strange occurrences like these women dressed as nurses who were caught stealing packages by an ADT camera. Not only has package theft gone up but so have speeding and opioid addiction.

Some very sad and disturbing crimes are definitely causing some increased awareness and drawing attention like the double homicide from a burglary in Utah and the burglary attempt on Sebastian Maniscalco’s home. (Not the famous comedian, but his cousin with the same name)

“I don’t think that anybody who is out there gang-banging or shooting or robbing feels one way or another about the coronavirus. In fact, they may see this as an opportune time to commit crime” (Dorothy Speight)

Commercial Burglaries

Some of the worst crimes that keep being problems and are even worse while in quarantine are burglary for commercial businesses – especially ones that are vacant because they are forced to close down due to the current restrictions, Philadelphia has seen a 56% increase in commercial burglaries in April 2020 over March 2020 and 22% increase year-t0-date. Retail theft in Philly is also up 40% year-to-date. Burglaries in Boulder Colorado have gone up 189% since March compared to this time last year, but Denver is reporting a slight reduction in crime. New York City’s commercial burglaries have seen a 169% increase.

Shootings and Homicides

Homicides in Philadelphia have had a 19% increase from the same period last year. They have not seen numbers that high since 2007. Chicago has also had an uptick in murders, up 10% from the previous year. Shootings are on the rise in Louisville, KY even though there are stay at home orders in place. Portland had also reported an increase in shootings with statistics showing a 25% increase. NYC also saw a slight increase in murders in 2020 vs 2019 YTD.

Not all cities are seeing large increases though. Los Angeles appears to have a drop in gun-related incidents and reports of domestic violence. It is hard to know if some of these statistics are just because people have not been reporting them. It will be interesting to see if some of the reports still show a decline once the quarantine is over since some might be afraid to report abuse. Though NYC is seeing a large increase in burglaries and homicides, their robberies, assaults, and larcenies are seeing a decline during the covid quarantine.

Homes, Vehicles, and Open Garages

Not only are businesses being hit but so are homes. Vehicle theft is another crime where rates have gotten very high. There are people who have been stealing from open garages and unlocked homes even while the homeowners are still there! There were people home for 65% of the burglaries in Boulder. Seattle has seen an 87% hike in burglaries in the month of March vs Feb of this year.

It is too difficult to say if crime overall has increased or decreased during this time since some cities see a drop and others are seeing a spike. But it seems apparent that commercial burglaries, homicides, and home invasions have all gone up. There are some parts of the country reporting decreases, but it seems that the increases in those areas outweigh the decreases.

The good news is that studies have shown that homes or businesses that have security systems are much less likely to have burglaries. Nearly all convicted burglars were found to avoid homes that have security systems in them. The odds of a break-in with a home security system present are between 3-20 times less likely. We are here to help and have lots of inexpensive options that can keep your family, home, and business safe during uncertain times and the future.

If you have any questions just give us a call and get a free quote with no pressure or hassle today! You can reach us at 1-800-871-2119.

The post Has Crime gone up during the COVID pandemic and quarantine? appeared first on Zions Security Alarms - ADT Authorized Dealer.

Article source here: Has Crime gone up during the COVID pandemic and quarantine?