Dark Days Offensive launched again

Darkness is a burglar's best friend. With the days getting shorter, the number of burglaries also increases. Dark days offer burglars many advantages. For example, a burglar in an unlit home easily knows that no one is home, and a burglar in an unlit home can more easily make his move unseen. The peak of burglaries is around the holidays. For example, did you know that most burglaries are committed on Boxing Day?

Every home has weak spots, and burglars take notice. Fortunately, there are ways to make your home safe and "burglar proof. To help you feel confident going into the dark (holiday) days, we will give you a number of tips and information in the coming weeks. We will pay attention to a particular theme from a particular angle:

  • When does a burglar walk past your home?
  • How can a Neighborhood WhatsApp group contribute to safety?
  • How does your home qualify for a Politie Keurmerk Veilig Wonen (PKVW)?

We share the tips on our website, social media and in the community bulletins of local newspapers.

Want to know more or read some tips in advance?

Go to www.maakhetzeniettemakkelijk.nl or www.politiekeurmerk.nl/preventietips.

Tip #1: When does a burglar walk past your home?

TIP 1: When does a burglar walk past your home?

Look at your home through the eyes of a burglar and ask yourself what you can do to outwit home burglars. Consider the following three aspects and take measures for your home where necessary. This will ensure that your home does not end up on a residential burglar's to-do list!

  • Accessibility: A home burglar's first consideration is the accessibility of a home. Homes with good and quality hardware are not attractive to home burglars. They are more likely to choose an unlocked home or one whose hardware is easy to break.
  • Loot: A home burglary, of course, must also yield some loot. Home burglars often have their eye on money or valuables, such as jewelry, portable electronics or car keys. These are often items of high emotional value to the occupants. Sometimes burglars are made easy by having such items in plain sight, confirming to them that there is something to get.
  • Catching probability: Finally, a residential burglar takes into account the probability of being caught. Invisibility is an important aspect for them. A residential burglar does not like to stand in the light and does not want to be disturbed by barking dogs or alarm systems. In addition, a home burglar observes if no one is present in the home so that she can proceed undisturbed.

Tip 2: How can a Neighborhood WhatsApp group contribute to safety?

You can actively contribute to a safe living environment in your neighborhood. Have you already joined a Neighborhood WhatsApp group? WhatsApp is an application (app) that allows you to easily share messages with multiple neighbors at once. By participating in or setting up your own Neighborhood WhatsApp group, you and your fellow residents can quickly inform each other of important matters in the neighborhood. This way you can keep an eye on things together and report suspicious situations faster to the police.

Research shows that the number of burglaries decreases significantly in neighborhoods with an active Neighborhood WhatsApp group compared to neighborhoods without such a group. Are you not yet a member of a Neighborhood Watch group or are you considering starting one yourself? Then go for more information to our webpage about BuurtWhatsApp-groups.

Tip 3: How does your home qualify for a Politie Keurmerk Veilig Wonen (PKVW)?

The Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen (PKVW) is a quality mark for homes that meet the requirements for burglary prevention and social safety. The chance of a successful burglary decreases by up to 80% when your home meets the hallmark.
To qualify for the hallmark, your home must at least meet certain requirements, such as:

  • There must be approved and certified hardware on windows and doors. Locks with the SKG seal of approval of 2 or 3 stars are burglar-resistant according to the standards of the PKVW;
  • Lighting should be provided at exterior doors;
  • There should be a good view of the person in front of the door;
  • There must be smoke detectors on each floor.

Does your home meet the PKVW requirements? Then the PKVW expert will hand over the Secure Home certificate. With the corresponding stickers you can also show outsiders that your house meets the requirements.

More information about the PKVW certificate?
Want to apply for a Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen certificate and find out which companies are PKVW-certified? Then visit www.politiekeurmerk.nl.

Tip 4: 10 actionable prevention tips

  1. Be careful on social media: thieves like to watch to know when you're not home. Shield posts as much as possible from "non-friends."
  2. Health for approved hardware with a PKVW certificate and SKG stars. Consider installing an alarm system and security cameras around the home.
  3. Health for adequate outdoor lighting, preferably with motion detection or a timer.
  4. Make the home appear occupied: leave lights, TV or radio on. Health that mail is not left on the mat and that garbage bags are cleaned up. If necessary, leave a car (such as a neighbor's) parked in front of the house and do not completely close off the view with blinds or curtains. Inform neighbors so they can also keep an eye out.
  5. Health for clear visibility on the street. Pay close attention to what is happening and use a neighborhood prevention app group if you see suspicious people or strange vehicles in the neighborhood. Always be vigilant and alert, especially once it gets dark outside.
  6. Health that you can see who is at the door. Use a door spy, door opener or smart doorbell.
  7. Going on vacation? Do so as anonymously as possible! Avoid putting your own address on your suitcase label when traveling by plane; use the address of family or the travel agency, for example. Burglars often look for address labels in the departure lounge and photograph them to strike while you are away. Are you traveling by car or caravan? Then don't pack it pontifically in front of your home, but do so out of sight as much as possible.
  8. Be careful what you put with the scrap paper; this can give burglars an idea of what can be found in the home.
  9. Never stick a bill on the door saying "I'll be gone for a while," because burglars like to read this too!
  10. Never hide keys under a flowerpot or doormat; these places have long since become no secret to burglars! Also, don't leave keys on the inside or outside of the lock. Like other valuables, always keep them out of sight.