Newly released data from the Texas Department of Public Safety shows that burglary offenses across the state dropped sharply in 2025 compared to 2024. Between January and August, overall burglaries fell by more than 26%, representing a major step forward in public safety. But the story isn’t the same everywhere — and for some communities, the threat of burglary is still rising.

How We’re Looking at the Data

Using the Texas DPS UCR/NIBRS Index Crimes data (Jan–Aug YTD), we can get a clearer picture of burglary trends by breaking the state into two categories:

• Large jurisdictions (≥100,000 population) — metro areas like Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Waco.

• Small jurisdictions (<100,000 population) — smaller cities and rural counties across Texas.

This approach helps level the playing field. Instead of just comparing raw numbers, we can see burglary risk per capita — how often offenses occur relative to population size. That way, the safety of a small town with 10,000 residents can be meaningfully compared to a metro of over a million.

Large vs Small Areas: Both Down, Different Risks

When we separate the data by population size, we see clear trends:

• Large Areas (≥100k population):
  Burglaries fell by 26.4%, and the average burglary rate dropped from 15.5 to 11.0 per 10,000 residents. Cities like Houston, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi contributed to this progress.

• Small Areas (<100k population):
  Smaller communities also saw a 26.4% drop overall, with the average rate falling from 15.6 to 11.1 per 10,000 residents. But volatility is higher: towns like Motley County and Port Mansfield recorded burglary rates exceeding 100 per 10,000 residents, far above the state average.

These insights highlight that while the statewide trend is positive, smaller towns often face disproportionate risk.

Waco: The Outlier

One city stood out in 2025: Waco.

• 2024: 283 burglaries, rate 19.4 per 10k

• 2025: 359 burglaries, rate 24.5 per 10k, A 26.9% increase, bucking the statewide decline.

This makes Waco a reminder that not every community follows the overall trend — and that burglary can rise even when it’s falling elsewhere. Don't worry Waco, we can help!

The Financial Toll

Even with fewer burglaries reported, the cost remains staggering:

• $557.6 million in losses were reported in 2025.

• Only $12.3 million was recovered — just 2%.

That means the overwhelming majority of victims never got their valuables back. Beyond the numbers, these losses represent emotional distress, disruption, and a lingering sense of vulnerability for families.

Why These Metrics Matter for Homeowners

Data like this is more than statistics — it’s a call to action:

• High rates in small towns show that low population doesn’t equal low risk.

• Outliers like Waco prove burglary can surge locally, even when the state trend is down.

• Low recovery rates underscore that prevention is the only real safeguard.

How Security Screen Masters of Texas Helps

At Security Screen Masters of Texas, we understand that protecting your home starts at the point of entry. Our burglar-resistant security screens are designed to stop intruders before they get inside — giving you peace of mind whether you live in a big city or a small town.

Even as burglary numbers improve statewide, the financial impact and the risk to families remain real. Don’t wait until your community becomes the next outlier. Protect your home today with proven security solutions.

Data source: Texas Department of Public Safety – UCR/NIBRS (Jan–Aug 2024 vs Jan–Aug 2025). Rates shown are burglaries per 10,000 residents. YTD reporting can vary by agency.