Not so easy to crack – here's how to deter burglars

How to best protect your home

Not only during the holiday season, but also when the days get shorter again, the number of burglaries increases. This is because unlit apartments or houses signal to burglars that no one is home.

Nationwide, the number of burglaries continued to rise in 2014. While crime statistics in the neighboring state of Rhineland-Palatinate showed a slight decrease, the police in Baden-Württemberg registered 13,500 offenses last year – 19.4 percent more than the previous year. In Saarland, too, the number of burglaries increased by 18.6 percent, exceeding the national average. The clearance rate, however, remains low; only about one in ten perpetrators is apprehended.

All regions are affected, both city centers and rural areas, provided that quick escape routes are guaranteed by nearby highway access. This is because burglaries are often committed by internationally operating gangs.

The Interior Ministry has taken measures to combat burglaries more effectively. However, every citizen can also contribute to protecting their home with simple measures. Opportunistic burglars, in particular, can be deterred by simple mechanical security devices. Forty percent of all attempted burglaries fail because the perpetrator doesn't get into the apartment quickly enough: "If he's not inside within three minutes, he'll look for another target," explains State Police President Gerhard Klotter in the Badische Zeitung.

It is not only the material loss that hurts: The intrusion into the intimate sphere of life violates the need for security and "places an immense burden on each individual victim," explains Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Gall.

How you can ensure greater security

The Ministry of the Interior therefore advises you to observe the following rules when you are not at home or when you go to bed:

Keep windows, balcony doors, and patio doors closed, even on upper floors. Tilted windows are more of an invitation than a hindrance ; only newer models are difficult to open when tilted. Lock house and basement doors. For doors with glass panels, remove the key from the inside.

For single-family homes, spotlights that can be switched on and off from inside are recommended for illuminating the entrance area and parts of the property that are difficult to see.

Be vigilant: Apartments and houses are often scouted before attempted break-ins. By observing, ringing the doorbell, and making phone calls (e.g., under the guise of a survey), the perpetrator checks if and when someone is home. Delivery drivers are also a popular source of information for burglars. So, it's best not to let the friendly delivery man share in your excitement about your vacation.

What to do if you are away on vacation?

As a general rule: the more occupied your house appears, the better. Make sure the blinds are open during the day. Use timers to switch lights, radio, and television on and off at different times. Close the garage door and ask a neighbor to empty your mailbox.

As part of the new investment program for burglary protection, the installation of alarm systems, secure doors and windows can be subsidized by the German Development Bank (KfW). More information is available at www.kfw.de, search term "burglary protection".

Tips for effective prevention can also be found at www.polizei-beratung.de. A free consultation can also be conducted directly in your home. During this consultation, you will be made aware of vulnerabilities and learn how to improve your burglary protection.

Sources: Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Interior, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Badische Zeitung