Burglars are again almost as active as before the corona crisis, it appears according to the AD from new police figures. Due to the lockdown measures, there were far fewer burglaries in the spring: in the last week of April it was even 60 percent less than in the same period last year. But last week it was only about 11 percent less burglaries compared to last year. Insurers are also seeing more frequent burglaries, the newspaper writes.
“As a result of the easing, more Dutch people go to work and it becomes busier on the road. Burglars see their chances rise quickly,” says Sybren van der Velden of the national coordination team Home Burglary & Heling. With the holiday season coming up, the police expect a ‘burglary peak’ in July and August. Another factor is that the borders are open again and that it is easier for mobile gangs to strike.
Van der Velden advises holidaymakers to close all windows at home and leave a light on somewhere. And don’t make it too neat before you leave, he says. “Burglars pay attention to that.”
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