Homes are our sanctuaries, they are the places we spend the most time and feel safest in. Sadly thousands of American homes are burgled every year with a range of valuables stolen leaving many Americans feeling unsafe in their own homes.

Here at Elite Fixtures we wondered just how many homes are burgled in America? where do these burglaries happen the most? and has there been a change in the amount of burglaries with the rise of smart home security technology?

To answer these questions we scoured data from the US Justice Department alongside Google Trends search data and came up with some interesting results. 

It appears that Southern manners go out the window (most likely with some of your valuables too) when it comes to burglary rates with the South having nearly 581 burglaries per 100,000 people, if you live here make sure to lock that deadbolt! If you live in the North East you’re the safest when it comes to burglaries with just under 277 burglaries taking place per 100,000 people.

If you live in New Mexico don’t forget to close those windows and lock those doors as with 830 burglaries per 100,000 people, New Mexico is the most burgled state in America alongside Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.  

Surprisingly New York is the least burgled state with only 201 burglaries per 100,000 people. Other more secure home states include New Hampshire, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.  

Burglars are bold it seems with the majority of burglaries taking place in the broad daylight with an average $2,258 in valuables stolen. Nighttime burglaries are less common and burglars tend to come away with less valuables with an average of $1,913 of valuables stolen.

Thankfully though the number of reported burglaries per year is decreasing with a dramatic decrease starting in 2012 and the downward trend continuing. This decrease made us wonder if the rise of smart home security devices has contributed in any way so we investigated further.

When it comes to smart home security Utah residents are searching for these devices the most alongside Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina.

Oklahoma wants some recorded piece of most and is the number one state searching for security cameras. Other states searching for these deterrents include Louisiana, Nevada, and West Virginia.

Interestingly when we look at security camera and smart home security searches we can see that from 2012 there has been a consistent increase in searches which may of had a positive effect on the decline in reported burglaries since 2012.

So there you have it, smart home security is on the rise and burglary rates are going down, the least burgled state is New York, and if you live in the North East you’re the safest when it comes to risk of burglary.

Elite Fixtures is proud to announce the winner of our “Eco-Friendly Sustainability” Scholarship. Congratulations to Kyle Latshaw, a junior at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania! He is majoring in mathematics.

We received hundreds of essays from students across the country describing what sustainability meant to them and what they are doing to live more eco-friendly. Kyle’s essay stood out to us because of his thoughtful comments on sustainability and what it means in American culture.

“Sustainability, above all, is thinking with the future in mind. This type of thinking is not always evident in American culture. We often purchase the newest item without thinking of what will happen to what we had before. We pursue profits and cost-cutting measures instead of seeking to manage our waste and possibly repurpose it. In many cases, we completely disregard the future.

“However, the future is less desolate than that pessimistic portrayal of American culture seems to suggest. Many others, like myself, have realized that we produce an astounding amount of waste and seek to do something about it. “Doing something” on an individual level is easy, and when many people do so, the changes we make create sustainability,” he wrote.

Kyle went on to describe a few ways he trying to “go green,” such as reducing his plastic waste by using refillable water bottles and reducing his carbon footprint by being mindful of his energy consumption — he always makes sure to turn off the lights in a room he’s not using.

On winning the scholarship, Kyle said he is grateful and it will allow him to continue to focus on his studies.

“[This scholarship] means I can better myself to make a larger impact on the world around me. Scholarships like this one help people make a change, and that’s what I want to do after I graduate,” he also commented.

It’s clear that not only is Kyle committed to sustainability, he also has a bright future in front of him. At Elite Fixtures, we’re proud to be a small part of that.

Congratulations, Kyle!

Even in a small space, the right vanity can tie a bathroom together and give you the room necessary to store a few items close at hand.  With the multitude of options out there, it’s easy these days to find a vanity that will perfectly compliment your bathroom, no matter your style.

• Bathroom vanities make a great area for hidden storage. I’ve seen some great storage ideas for vanities to keep things neat and tidy, and hidden from view of your visiting guests.  Use baskets or bins for larger items or hygiene products, and use storage trays in your drawers to keep your smaller items including makeup organized and easy to find.  A vanity is a wonderful way to hide the products you use every day that you don’t necessarily want to display to the world.

• Your vanity can also serve as a fabulous decorative piece in a bathroom, like any other furniture. It can actually become the focal point and add a surprising punch of colour, or be fashioned from an antique that you just can’t part with but have no other use for.  Vanities have been made from old dressers and bed side tables, or even custom built out of old barn wood.  You can also purchase a box store vanity and refurbish or paint it to make it entirely your own.

• Keeping clutter away from your sink and off the cupboard will enable you to maintain a bathroom that stays cleaner and is more welcoming to use. There’s nothing worse than trying to get ready in the morning and having to clear space before you can even start your grooming.  When you have a vanity available, you free up room for your morning routine and the sink area stays tidier.

• A well designed vanity can certainly add value to your home. A pedestal sink can certainly look nice, but one of the first things people ask when faced with one in a home they’re thinking about buying is where bathroom items will be stored.  Without a vanity it takes some creativity to figure out how to keep necessary products close at hand.  Nobody wants to be stuck in the bathroom while the toilet paper is stored in a linen closet down the hall.  Vanities have become an item that potential buyers expect and will make resale much more likely.

• A bathroom vanity can be the most versatile piece of furniture in the house and can easily reflect your personality. It can also be modified quickly and cost effectively; wood vanities can be painted or sanded down and re stained.  A change of drawer fronts or even just the pulls or knobs can shift the look dramatically.  A vanity becomes an easy way to change the entire feel of your bathroom without breaking the bank.

The benefits of a bathroom vanity are numerous, and adding one to your home can take a bathroom from mundane to marvellous.

This article was written by Jon Reyes from Steam and Shower UK. Jon has been writing articles for over 10 years and is a commanding voice in the health and fitness community.

Bathrooms perform a double duty in the household; they’re definitely functional but can also be your haven for relaxation.  When renovating or designing from scratch, you’ll want to pay special attention to your bathroom lighting.  It’s often overlooked in the face of so many other design choices; the fixtures, the wall color, tiles, tub surround, etc.  The right lighting can take a bathroom from dull to delightful.  Here are some tips before you make your choice:

Style

Obviously, no matter what function the light is going to serve, you’ll want something that goes with the style you’re trying to create in the rest of the room.  Take into account the color of your taps and tiles when choosing your light fixture finish.  If the bathroom has a modern feel, a light fixture that has a brushed nickel or black finish with simple, straight lines might be your best bet.  Stick with the same theme throughout so that your light fixture doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, but blends with the room as a whole.

Finish

The world is your oyster when it comes to finishes.  Light fixtures can be made of an assortment of products; metal, plastic, crystal, wood…there’s no limit to your imagination these days.  Again, you’ll want to think about the theme or feel of the rest of your bathroom.  It’s a good idea to keep the finish on your taps and light fixtures complimentary.

Task Lighting

This type of lighting is the workhorse of any room.  In a bathroom, it’s the light by which you’ll shave, apply makeup, and do all of your grooming.  Task lighting is most often placed right at the vanity where it’s largely needed, but it’s often done improperly.  If you mount task lighting over top of your mirror, the light will cast a shadow over the lower half of your face; mounted on either side of the mirror, however, improves the visibility of your whole face.  Sconces work great for this type of lighting.

Accent Lighting

If there is anything that you want to highlight in the bathroom (maybe a recessed wall with art or a tile mosaic) accent lighting is your best bet.  You could also put an accent light over a shelf with folded hand towels and soaps.  Whatever you’d like to feature in the bathroom, consider accent light to show it off to the best degree.

Decorative Lighting

Looking for a light to tie everything together?  A decorative chandelier or pendant light adds that sparkle to any bathroom, no matter the style.  Think dazzling crystal or feathered piece for a delicate, feminine bathroom, or a dark wooden frame surrounding a bare bulb pendant for a cabin style bathroom with a more masculine bend.

Natural Light and Wattage

If there’s a lot of natural light in your bathroom (during the time when you’ll most need it) then you can consider a lower wattage of bulb, especially in the case of your decorative light.  As a rule, however, it’s best to go with a 75 to 100W bulb in your task and accent light fixtures.  Since natural light changes drastically throughout the day, and can certainly be an asset, you’ll want to have control over the times when you can’t rely on what’s coming through your window.

Choosing your lighting can be as enjoyable as choosing any other part of your bathroom.  Explore the possibilities and have fun with it!

This article was written by Jon Reyes from Clearwells. Jon has been writing articles for over 10 years and is a commanding voice in the health and fitness community.