Burglary is one of the most common crimes in Australia, with more than 380,000 incidents or attempts reported to police agencies in 1994. Crime survey data suggest that perhaps half as many cases go unreported. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 6.8 percent of households have been victimized by an actual or an attempted burglary. Residential and commercial burglaries cost nearly $900 million per year. Many factors combine to enhance the risk of becoming the victim or the perpetrator of burglary. Knowledge about the background and motives of burglars is limited, however, because only 10 to 15 percent of reported cases are solved. Both situational and socioeconomic factors contribute to a potential burglar's decision to commit an offense. Steps residents can take to reduce the risk of burglary and police responses are described. The importance of empowering communities to prevent crime, often through programs which integrate situational and social strategies, is stressed. The contribution of criminologists to burglary prevention through more refined analysis of the problem and the development of countermeasures is discussed. 14 references and 2 figures