This Is The Most Common Crime In The US

As reasons to hide in your room and never go outside again go, a fear of crime is pretty top shelf. News reports and compiled statistics can make a person feel like the world is basically one big Gotham City, filled with a panoply of Jerk McGurks all waiting to jump out of the shadows and coat your flesh in graffiti or gun you down for your precious pearls. 

If you're of the opinion that life is a numbers game, you might be curious to find out what exactly which crime is statistically most likely to befall your person should you venture into the frightening realm of humanity. Here's the skinny.

According to statistics gathered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the most common crime in the United States is, by far, what's called "larceny-theft." This includes "...thefts of bicycles, thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories, shoplifting, pocket-picking, or the stealing of any property or article that is not taken by force, violence, or fraud." The FBI estimates that roughly 5.2 million cases of larceny theft occurred in 2018, making up a 72.5 percent piece of the property crime pie and accounting for approximately $6 billion in losses to victims. 

Here's some more bad news. If you're the victim of a larceny-theft, the odds of your case being solved are pretty slim, with estimated clearance rates just shy of 19%. Yeah, all of that can seem pretty intimidating, but here's the up shot: it turns out the crime has, overall, been on a downward slide for quite a while. In fact, larceny-theft rates are down 22.8% since 2009, according to FBI estimates, and property crimes overall are down about the same. Violent crime is also down overall when compared to 2009. The overarching message here: you don't have to come out of your panic room yet if you're not ready, but know that lately, you're more likely to be okay if you do. The only thing worse than getting your bike stolen is realizing that old Father Time has stolen the last of your good years... So why not get out there and have a little fun?