October is Crime Prevention Month! Although we thriller writers depend on (fictional) crime to make a living, in real life, crime costs its victims billions of dollars—and that doesn’t take into account the emotional toll. (I mean, just look at everyone in Undercover Source, amirite? #iykyk)
Just take a look at these stunning statistics…
- In the U.S. alone, the FBI estimates there are 25 to 50 active serial killers at any given time. In the 1970s, the “golden age” for serial killers, there were nearly 300 known serial killers.
- In 2022, the FBI reported more than 1.23 million violent crimes. More than 21,000 of these were homicides.
- Property crime—such as theft, burglary, larceny, arson, and vandalism—is the most common type of crime in the U.S. In 2022, there were more than 6.5 million reported.
- More than 1 million Americans are arrested each year for drug-related crimes, including selling, manufacturing, or possessing illegal substances.
- In 2023, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 9,619 cases involving 16,999 victims of sex and/or forced labor trafficking. However, the actual numbers of victims are thought to be much higher: One study estimates there are currently more than 1 million people who’ve fallen victim to human trafficking. The age group with the most victims of human trafficking is 9 to 17 year olds, followed by 30 to 38 year olds.
- Cyber crime—phishing, identity theft, malware, hacking, etc.—is on the rise: An estimated 88.5 million people are victims of cyber crime in the United States each year, with a total monetary loss around $12.5 billion. Every hour, there are nearly 100 victims of cyber crime. In 2022, with every second that passed, an average of 2 internet users had their data leaked.
Throughout the month of October, I’m going to be talking about crime here on my blog and the socials. I can’t promise anything, but there might be some Breaking News Mystery Series Easter eggs (or even news about the next installment!) hidden among these crime prevention facts and tips… so be sure to follow along on your preferred platform!
