Protection against burglaries

Last years statistics record almost 140,000 reported burglaries in Germany. This is a decrease by ten percent over the prior year, but still no reversal of the trend. We asked our expert Rolf Mertens why burglary numbers are still that high and what could deter burglars.

Mr Mertens, why does the number of burglaries in Germany increase with every year? How can thieves be deterred?
More and more households today are equipped with valuable technology - this makes them attractive to burglars. Expensive electronic devices such as tablet computers, mobile phones and digital cameras are easy to carry and therefore "easy" loot with a high reselling value, just like jewellery and cash, which shouldn't be kept at home in large amounts.

Many people underestimate the risks – and do not sufficiently secure their apartment or house. The burglary risk can be reduced with some simple technical security measures already: Perpetrators usually stop trying if they cannot get in within five minutes: They do not want to risk drawing the neighbours' attention by their entry and the noise they cause – which may lead to them being caught in the act. It is therefore generally recommended to invest in safety technology.

What else can you do to reduce the risk of burglary?
A few simple rules of conduct help protect against thieves already: Never leave any windows or window doors open or tilted when the residents aren't at home! In particular windows that are difficult to view and easy to reach on the ground floor or basement make thieves' work needlessly easy otherwise. This also applies to windows that can be reached directly from balconies or attachments or using climbing aids such as protrusions in the walls or garden furniture. Residents should light the outdoor area well after dark - in particular endangered areas such as the entrance door, side and rear entries. Lamps with motion detectors help with this.

Also: Always lock your doors – even if you are only gone a few minutes. Just pulling them closed is not enough! When you are on holiday, it is a good idea to make it seem as if someone were home: A friendly neighbour or a simple timer can control lighting and roller shutters to match the time of the day. Alarm systems increase safety. However, all of these only work if the residents don't open a backdoor for the burglar by keeping spare keys in an outdoor hiding place, for example.

When does protection in the scope of household insurance apply?
A household insurance helps tenants and owners protect their property from loss due to burglary. For the damage to be reimbursed in full, however, the insurance total agreed must be sufficient. In order to avoid underinsurance, one should regularly check if the insured total still corresponds to the current value of the household object.

In case of burglary, the insurer will cover the reinstatement values for the stolen objects. He will also reimburse the costs for repairing, e.g., windows or doors that have been forced open. In order to be prepared well for emergencies, it is recommended that valuable household contents such as TV, digital camera, computer and jewellery be documented. This is best done with photographs and, if present, purchasing documentation.

Important: The household insurance only covers the loss if there has been an actual theft from burglary. This means that if household contents are stolen after someone entered an apartment using tools or keys copied without authorisation. If a resident accidentally left the balcony or terrace door open when leaving, literally clearing the way for the thieves, the insurance will not cover any resulting damage!