A study shows that burglary is a big threat to our mental health. The survey is from a British charity and a home security company. It was based on 1,000 people who had been burgled. A quarter of them had anxiety or depression; a quarter felt sad to think they could not protect their home. Many people felt unsafe after a burglary. Many victims became afraid of being attacked in the streets. They were not afraid before being burgled.

The British Psychological Society said people underestimate how traumatic burglary is. A professor said: "Burglary is frequently seen as a minor crime….However psychologically and emotionally…being burgled is likely to have a severe emotional outcome for many victims who were, up to then, leading ordinary lives." People often want to move to a different house. Other people get depressed and cannot sleep. Others have marriage problems.