How to protect against burglaries?

Experiencing a burglary is a particularly traumatic life event. Beyond the unpleasant experience of discovering that our personal belongings have been stolen, there is also the overwhelming feeling of injustice and anger. Rather than tempting fate, it is better to take the initiative and do everything possible to avoid becoming a victim of a home burglary.

Burglars mainly act when you are absent.

The fact is that when you leave your home, it becomes most vulnerable to being targeted by criminals. But how do they know you are not there?

The answer to this question is quite simple. Before committing a theft, criminals carry out surveillance and gather as much information as possible about your movements and the immediate surroundings. In 100% of cases, these acts are carried out by individuals who are fully aware of the risks and penalties they face. They therefore take maximum precautions to avoid being caught.

The Grand Ducal Police has made several observations in its crime report. We know that burglars are more likely to commit their acts:

• In inhabited houses
• In urban areas
• Along major traffic routes
• Near borders
• On Fridays and Saturdays in the early evening
• During holidays

The risk of burglary increases during holidays

Burglary incidents are most frequent during holiday periods. In fact, thieves know that if you are away on vacation, they have enough time to thoroughly search your home without the risk of being disturbed.

To protect yourself against this type of crime, here are some anti-burglary tips to implement before you leave:

1. Properly lock all openings in your home. Do not leave any hinged windows open.
2. Do not leave keys in the locks.
3. Inform trusted individuals of your extended absence and give them a spare key to your home.
4. Ask someone you trust to regularly open and close the shutters.
5. Install timers on lights to simulate presence after dark.
6. Ask a neighbor to move your second car or park in front of your house to simulate occupancy.
7. Ask a trusted person to collect your mail regularly.
8. Ensure that no one can access your shared basement, if applicable.
9. Disconnect your answering machine or forward your phone line to your mobile device.
10. Install a security bar on garden doors to prevent them from being opened from the outside.
11. If you own valuable items, place them in a bank or install a safe in a hidden area of your home.
12. Install and activate a burglary alarm system consisting at minimum of opening sensors, motion detectors, and surveillance cameras. (Discover our alarm systems at galarm.lu)

As an added benefit, the Grand Ducal Police allows you to report your departure on vacation via the E-police station. This free service ensures that the police will carry out preventive patrols and surveillance day and night.

Before a burglary, your social media is also scrutinized.

According to available information, 78% of burglars use social media for surveillance before attempting a theft. To limit any intrusion attempts, it is recommended to use common sense when using social platforms.

1. Ensure your privacy settings are correctly configured on the platforms you use.
2. Do not announce your vacations on social media.
3. Do not update your Facebook, Twitter, or other cover photos with vacation pictures, as they are public by default.
4. Do not accept friend requests from people you do not personally know.
5. Do not share your private address or phone number on your accounts.
6. Avoid sharing photos of your high-end equipment on social media.
7. Disable automatic geolocation on your social networks.
8. Monitor your children’s social media activity and educate them about the dangers of the internet.

In general, be as discreet as possible on social media. Pay attention to information related to your private life and assets. Contrary to popular belief, accessing information shared online is far from impossible. It is best to minimize risks as much as possible.

What to do in case of burglary?

Despite all these recommendations, if you still become a victim of a home burglary, the following actions are advised:

1. Contact the police and file a burglary report.
2. Do not touch anything before the police arrive.
3. Create a detailed list of stolen items.
4. Cancel any payment methods no longer in your possession.
5. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
6. Secure any damaged entry points.

Finally, if you have experienced a burglary, consider equipping yourself with an effective alarm and surveillance system.