Trending Personal Security Threats: Alert Your Loved Ones Over the past three years, personal security threats have been increasing.Please be aware of these trends, update your loved ones on protection strategies, and reach out to the personal insurance team at BNC to ensure that your valuables are properly insured.Violent Crime 2020 was a tumultuous year.

During the pandemic, violent crime increased by 5%, according to the FBI, and homicides increased by 30%.The Council on Criminal Justice says that homicides continued to increase in 2021, based on crime data collected from 22 cities.New York City has also experienced a recent increase in violent crime.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) says that from June 2021 to June 2022, overall crime increased by 31.1%.Robbery increased 36.1% and burglary increased 33.8%.The NYPD also saw a 4% increase in gun arrests.

In one recent example of violent crime in the city, NBC New York reports that two men disguised themselves as FedEx workers to carry out a home invasion at a Bronx apartment, and one of the intruders shot the victim.Auto Thefts According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), auto thefts increased by 9.2% in 2020, and the sharpest increases were seen in the second half of the year.The surge appears to have continued into 2021.

The Council on Criminal Justice says that motor vehicle theft rates increased by 14% in 2021.Thieves don’t always steal the entire car.Sometimes they just take the catalytic converter, a piece of equipment that contains valuable metals.

The NICB says that catalytic converter thefts surged by 325% in 2020.Most auto thefts happen when no one’s watching, but some criminals are bold.In one recent example, NBC New York says that two thieves assaulted a 71-year-old man and took his keys after he parked his SUV in his driveway in Brooklyn.

The crime happened in broad daylight.Cybercrime The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 847,376 complaints in 2021, up from 791,790 in 2020 and 467,361 in 2019.Ransomware attacks have increased, but so have other cybercrimes, including romance scams.

In these schemes, fraudsters use fake online identities to gain a victim’s trust and affection and then swindle the victim out of money.Cryptocurrency schemes were another common complaint in 2021, and scammers frequently posed as official support or security from cryptocurrency exchanges.Protect Yourself from Personal Security Threats There are many different threats, so it’s important to stay vigilant.

When threatened with a crime, always prioritize your safety over your property.At BNC, we can help you secure homeowners insurance, auto insurance and scheduled coverage for valuable items.Learn more.