This is how burglars operate
Burglaries and sneak-ins decreased from an average of 100 per day to 90 per day between 2019 and 2020, reaching the lowest level since the statistics were revised in 2009. Burglary-critical locations must still have sufficient burglary protection.
According to police crime statistics, there are currently around 90 burglaries and sneak-ins per day. The number of burglaries and sneak-ins reached its lowest level since the revision of the police crime statistics in 2009. In 2020, 32,819 burglaries and sneak-ins were registered throughout Switzerland. This is 9.9 percent less than in 2019, and the number has been in constant decline since 2012.
However, the current figures cannot hide the fact that burglary crime in Switzerland remains high. Despite falling case numbers, a great many burglaries or attempted burglaries still occur, mostly via objects such as windows and doors. Where the perpetrators encounter little resistance, they are successful.
Doors and windows, for example, can be retrofitted with burglar-resistant products such as multipoint locks and additional locks. Residents should therefore carefully check whether there is a need to catch up in terms of burglary protection. It is worth investing in modern security technology and having protective measures carried out only by certified specialists.
How do burglars operate?
They come when no one is around. Burglars enter apartments and single-family houses during the day, when people are at work and out and about. In business premises, offices, warehouses and the like, burglaries basically take place at night, when no one is still on the premises or in the area. Burglars avoid confrontation with occupants. Unsecured objects are overcome by the burglar with simple tools (screwdriver) within a few seconds. On the other hand, the percentage of burglary attempts indicates that burglary-critical locations are increasingly equipped with high-quality burglary protection products.
Burglary protection and prevention
When it comes to burglary protection, the Swiss Secure Housing Association (SWS) relies on the "three-pillar principle" - a combination of three measures that help prevent break-ins:
- Behavioral and organizational measures: These include making sure that no keys are left in the lock, that windows and doors are locked, and that people in the neighborhood look out for each other.
- Structural-mechanical measures: These include, for example, tested windows and doors with increased resistance class, retrofit products such as additional locks, locks and window grilles.
- Electrotechnical measures: These include, among other things, an intrusion alarm system that detects access via intrusion-critical points at an early stage, displays them locally and reports them to an alarm receiving point.
Integrate in construction planning
Today, building products such as windows and doors must meet a wide range of requirements. In new construction, the topic of burglary protection can be integrated directly into the planning. Building owners should ensure that only burglar-resistant windows and doors are installed.
Windows and doors closed
In principle, the same applies to windows as to doors: they are usually forced open and levered open by burglars at their weak points and should therefore be secured with special locking devices, so-called mushroom head pins. Each window handle must also be lockable to prevent it from being opened from the inside.
Multipoint locks provide multiple resistance to a door when attempted to be levered. If one side of the door is reinforced with an additional wooden panel, burglars with lever openings have a harder time. Furthermore, it is important to screw all locking bars solidly.
www.sicheres-wohnen-schweiz.ch
