Increase number of home burglaries after Coronadip
The number of home burglaries has increased considerably in recent weeks, after an earlier dip because of the coronacrisis. Where about 350 times were broken into every week in April and May, this had risen in the first two weeks of June to an average of 450 times a week.
This confirms a spokesperson for the police police force after reporting The Telegraph and Nu.nl.
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, half fewer burglary reports arrived in the months of April and May than normal. Last April there was 1383 times a declaration of home burglary, against 2760 times a year earlier. In May that was 1353 times, by 2700 in 2019.
In June, around 600 times are normally broken into every week. “But I expect it will only increase. This so that we may be above 2000 burglaries at the end of June, "says project leader home burglary at the National Police Sybren van der Velden. "Then we almost return to the normal level in June of 2500."
Van der Velden says that the increase is because people go to work more often because of the relaxation of the corona measures and go out more. "And of course burglars particularly strike when nobody is at home."
"Number of burglaries run parallel to the relaxation of the RIVM"
Insurer Interpolis predicts that the number of burglaries will be back at the old level in three weeks, if the trend continues. “The increase that we see in the number of burglaries runs parallel to the relaxation of the RIVM. We know that "being home" is an important predictor for the burglary risk, "said a spokesperson. The number of burglaries that has also been reported to the police in recent days is an important indicator of the burglary risk in a neighborhood. “We often see that a neighborhood is being broken into several times in a short period of time. Usually about five or six times in a short time. "
For those who go out again after months of sitting at home, the insurer has a number of tips. This way people can pretend to be at home by automatically switching lights in and out by a timer. According to Interpolis, outdoor lighting with a sensor with the front or back door is also a good idea. "Burglars do not like to work in sight." It is also advised not to do not all curtains and shutters tight and to check the hinges and locks. “Good locks keep burglars out. Of course, lock the door well when you leave, "says the insurer.
Source: ANP