The Alaska Justice Statistical Center just shared some eye-popping stats on the burglary trend. Back in July 2014, the University of Alaska in Anchorage found that burglaries of homes have plummeted more than **70%** since 1985, and business break-ins have nosedived over **80%**. Altogether, burglaries fell by **65%** between 1985 and 2012. Analysts give a nod to the growing population for this drop. But, here’s the kicker: it’s in percentages, not just numbers. This means burglaries decreased faster than the population grew. Better alarm systems, increased police presence, and other smart strategies are getting the credit for this huge improvement.
The report revealed that there was over 1,000 burglaries per 100,000 people in 1985, but in 2012 there were less than 500 per the same amount. The population explanation can also be valid if more honest people moved into the state than burglars.
Identifying the exact reason for the decline was not part of the report, but citizens and law enforcement can draw their own conclusions through discussion. Experts also note that as many as 66% of burglaries go unreported, so the statistics do not depict an actual state of crime in Alaska. Burglaries may go unreported because illegal goods were stolen, there is illegal activity in the house, or maybe the burglar was a relative that is addicted to drugs. The report did reveal that home invasions at night were dropping off and burglaries are much less common during the winter months.