Credits: Social Media
Top 5 crimes Americans dread as 40% are afraid to walk alone at night
2023 saw a record high of fear of crimes in the United States; three decades after the population expressed concerns about their safety when the country experienced the “worst crime waves.”
The fear of falling prey to different illegal acts significantly impacts people’s social lives, health, and more. 40% of Americans dread walking alone at night just within a mile of their homes. A survey conducted last year saw people list specific crimes they are most afraid of.
Top 5 crimes Americans dread
The majority of Americans, 72%, worry about being the victim of identity theft. The next most feared crime is having their car stolen and broken into, followed by the fear of their homes being burglarized in their absence.
While 50% worry about losing their vehicles, 44% worry about thieves breaking into their homes. Getting mugged, needless to say, is the next crime on the list that Americans are concerned about as 37% would rather not walk alone.
Another 32% of the population is scared of being attacked while driving a car. The last three crimes on the list include being a victim of hate crime, getting murdered, and being sexually assaulted at 30%, 28%, and 27% respectively.
How the fear impacts daily life
Except for the fear of their house getting burglarized and identity theft, every other crime people dread mostly occurs outside their residence, thus forcing them to stay home.
This caused a declined social life, and willingness to seek healthcare, with Americans choosing to stay home rather than stepping out to get some workout.
Gallup polling reveals that people don’t want to drive to activities in the cities because 34% want to avoid any crimes that can occur while they are outside their homes.
“Overall, 66% of adults have avoided at least one of the activities due to fear of crime, while 34% say they have avoided none of them,” it notes.
With women exhibiting fear of crimes more than men, the former are less likely to walk or jog alone in their locality or strike up a conversation with strangers.
The vast majority, 80% of Americans prefer stepping out during the day to go to parks and stores, and most women like venturing out during the daylight too.
