These States Most Theft-Prone

Every day, 3,000 American homes are broken into…but are some states more theft-prone than others? A study by Automatic Technology found that New Mexico has the highest burglary rate. Washington state and Louisiana come in second and third place, respectively. On the other hand, New Hampshire is the safest state, with only 73.5 burglaries per 100,000 people. Maine and Virginia are close behind, with only 115.9 and 124.6 burglaries per 100,000 people. States with high burglary rates tend to also have higher poverty rates. “Poverty can lead to a desperation to make ends meet, which can lead to crime,” an ATA spokesperson said. “Problems with poverty rates are compounded by a lack of investment in education and healthcare and low employment rates.” (Study Finds)