DUWO

Burglary can cause psychiatric as well as material damage. The simple idea that someone has been in your house and rifled through your belongings is extremely unpleasant and can leave you feeling unsafe at home – the very place where you should feel comfortable.

Around 90% of the 120,000 burglaries committed every year are crimes of opportunity. The burglar can gain easy access to the place of residence either by using basic tools or simply as a result of owner negligence.

Examples of this are:

• An open first-floor window that can be accessed via a shed roof 
• A key left under the front door mat for convenience 
• Leaving a piece of string attached to the door handle hanging through the letter box 
• An open window to an unoccupied room

A distressing consequence of this type of burglary is that no trace is left of the illegal entrance. Make sure you are not this negligent, because the insurance company will certainly reject your claim!

When conversation turns to burglary prevention, you often hear people say: ‘well, if they really want to get in, they’ll find a way no matter what you do’. Perhaps there is an element of truth in this, but you can certainly make it a lot more difficult for the burglar to quickly gain access to your home. If you take the time to protect your home, the burglar will probably not risk the extra time needed to break in and is more likely to attempt to break in to a house that has less protection.

The first step is to make a note of places where your house may be vulnerable to burglary. Are there dark or concealed areas where a burglar can go about his business undisturbed? Would it be easy for a burglar to climb up to a first-floor window? Can hinges or window frames be easily removed? What kind of locks are fitted on doors and windows?

Vulnerable points can be quickly strengthened by replacing or fitting good-quality hinges and locks. You can also take additional measures, for example:

• Fit timer switches to lighting to give the impression that someone is at home
• Ensure that valuable items are kept out of sight of passers-by
• Keep greenery around the house at such a level that it does not provide cover for a burglar
• Install good-quality outdoor lighting

You can find a complete overview of preventative measures on the Dutch Police website.

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