Thieves Use Social Media to Plan Summer Home Burglaries

Data from Aviva Canada shows that residential burglary claims increase dramatically over the summer months. Compared to February – which has the lowest frequency of burglaries – July, August and September show an increase of 24 percent, 36 percent and 18 percent respectively.

While the frequency of burglary is on the decline in Canada, the value of property being stolen is on the rise. For Aviva Canada, the average value of a burglary claim has increased 27 percent over the last five years from $5,695 to $7,243. This can be attributed to the value of easier to steal and sell items such as jewelry, tablet and laptop computers, cell phones, video cameras and gaming consoles.

Aviva insurance claims data also indicates that break-ins are more common at the start of the weekend, with Friday showing the greatest incidence at 25 percent higher than Sunday, the day with the lowest incidence of break-ins. Thursday also shows a high rate of break-in frequency at 19 percent higher than Sunday.

Based on Aviva Canada data from 2009 to 2013, Quebec homeowners have the highest frequency of break-ins at almost two times that of the national average. At just over one third of the national average, the Atlantic Provinces have the lowest frequency of burglary claims.

*Burglary claim counts in NB, NF, NS, PE, SK, NT, NU and YK were combined due to low frequency.

Source: Aviva Canada Inc.