A new study indicates Delaware has the highest rate of home theft in the United States, alarmingly higher than even the second state on the list.
The study, by Las Vegas-based H&P Law, used FBI data for thefts from buildings between 2019 and 2023 to calculate the average theft rate per 1,000 residents by state.
Delaware leads the nation with an average of 367.8 thefts per 100,000 residents, over three times the national average (99.8 thefts) and over 100 thefts more than the second-leading state of Tennessee (248.9 thefts). On average, between 2019 and 2023, Delaware had 3,692 thefts from buildings per year, among its population of roughly 1 million.
A statement from H&P Law pointed to the rise of "porch pirates" as a significant contributing factor to the numbers.
"These high rates of home theft not only result in financial losses for residents but also create a sense of violation and insecurity in communities," the statement said. "The surge in online shopping in recent years has unfortunately created more opportunities for package theft from porches and doorsteps."
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To reduce "porch pirate" incidents, H&P Law recommends installing security cameras, using package lockboxes and only allowing deliveries when someone is home.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at [email protected] or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: In US, Delaware has highest rate of thefts from home, study shows
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