The Gironde Summer, peak season for break-ins
In 2024, over 218,700 homes were burgled in France, which means a home is broken into every 2 minutes and 24 seconds. This is a 3% increase compared to 2023, and it's concerning, especially because it's spreading to areas that were previously safe: rural zones. Places like Corrèze, Mayenne, and Ille-et-Vilaine are seeing record increases exceeding 40%.
As for Gironde, it reports 8.7 burglaries per 1,000 residents, placing it just behind Bouches-du-Rhône (9.4%) and Isère (9.1%). This statistic puts the department among the most vulnerable in France.
A concerning resurgence and increasingly sophisticated methods
Forget the cliché; the eager thief. Nowadays, burglars work with precision: drone scouting, discreet markings, identity theft (EDF agents, delivery drivers)... Lock picking and bumping have replaced traditional breaking and entering, leaving little to no trace behind. Signal jammers and hacking into connected cameras are now part of their toolkit.
Intrusions mainly happen at night (50.3%), but also in the afternoon (30.2%) and in the morning (19.3%). The school holidays, summer, and year-end festivities remain the riskiest times. While large urban areas are still targeted, burglary is no longer solely an urban issue. The study reveals a uniform spread of risk, from dense areas to isolated villages.
The top 10 most affected departments in 2024 reflect this new reality:
| Rank | Department | Rate per 1,000 inhabitants |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bouches-du-Rhône | 9.4% |
| 2 | Isère | 9.1% |
| 3 | Gironde | 8.7% |
