Crime & Safety

See Why Virginia Was Named 'Worst State to Be a Burglar'

See how much worse punishment for burglary is in Virginia compared to other states—and the effect it has on the crime rate.

Who knew?

According to the company SimpliSafe, on the list of the 13 worst states to be a burglar, Virginia comes in on top.

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According to SimpliSafe, the fate of burglars varies widely among states. Punishment for committing burglary can range from a virtual slap on the wrist, to getting locked up for life.

And, according to the company's analysis, the toughness of the punishment can have an impact on the state's crime rate.

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The 13 worst states to be a burglar are:

  1. Virginia
  2. South Carolina
  3. Alabama
  4. Montana
  5. Washington, DC
  6. Kentucky
  7. Indiana
  8. Pennsylvania
  9. Oklahoma
  10. Florida
  11. Tennessee
  12. Illinois
  13. Maine

In these 13 toughest states on burglary, the average minimum prison sentence is two and a half years, whereas the minimum is only about one year in the rest of the country.

Interestingly, South Carolina and Virginia also have the toughest maximum prison sentence for burglary—life in prison. In addition, Virginia has the highest maximum fine that can be handed down for the crime, which is $100,000.

As far as the impact on burglary rates, Virginia happens to be the one state where it actually seems to work in our favor. Virginia also comes in at number one for lowest burglary rates, far ahead of numbers two and three, South Carolina and Alabama, which still seem to struggle with high burglary rates despite their tough punishments.

To see more information on SimpliSafe's rankings and analysis, click here.

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