Burglars have happy hours during the summer and 5 tips against burglary

The summer holidays are just around the corner and we are going out en masse. Every year, approximately three quarters of Dutch people go on holiday during the summer months. Not surprisingly, July and August are popular months for burglars. Home security company Ring investigated when and where burglaries most occur, who the burglars are and how we protect ourselves against burglaries. It turns out: most burglaries are committed by your neighbors and Saturday and Sunday afternoons are ‘happy hours’ for burglars.

Summer months popular with burglars
Not everyone takes it easy during the summer holidays. Last year there were on average 19% more burglaries in July and August than in June (1). It is therefore not surprising that one in three Dutch people is concerned about a possible burglary during the summer holidays. And 16% sometimes take valuables from their home with them, so that they cannot be stolen.

Happy hours for burglars
Whether you stay at home or travel, it is always good to know when the risk of home burglary is greatest. Contrary to what many people think, most burglaries do not take place in the middle of the night but in broad daylight. Only 13% of home burglaries happen at night, compared to more than 60% in the afternoon and evening hours. Weekend days are especially popular with burglars, making Saturday and Sunday afternoons real ‘happy hours’ for burglars.

Burglars are your neighbors
The vast majority of burglaries are committed by ‘occasional burglars’, people who strike without thorough preparation when they smell an opportunity. They make up about 80% to 90% of burglars. The burglar often lives around the corner: on average, burglars only travel about 800 meters from their own home address to the house where they attack! Fortunately, ‘a good neighbor is better than a distant friend’ still applies in our country. Two-thirds of Dutch people (66%) feel more comfortable going on holiday if their local residents keep an eye on things.

Safe and less safe municipalities
Home burglaries occur in all kinds of neighborhoods. Underprivileged neighborhoods are often hotspots, possibly because many burglars come from there and because home security is not always optimal. Yet burglaries occur most often in ‘rich’ municipalities such as Zeist (8.1 burglaries per 1,000 households), Laren (7.1) and Baarn, with (6.4). If you really want to avoid home burglary, move to Harlingen or Dinkelland, because there are only 0.5 burglaries per 1,000 inhabitants.

Nearly half use technology to secure their home
In the brochure ‘Prevent home burglaries’, the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Police and the CCV advise that cameras deter burglars. The Dutch seem to embrace this technology: research by Allianz Direct shows that almost two-thirds (63%) expect a smart doorbell to help prevent theft. 26% of people who own such a doorbell have even recorded burglary or theft with it.
But should you really worry when you go on holiday? No, fortunately our country is relatively safe when it comes to home burglaries. Only 5% of Dutch people have been confronted with it in the past ten years.

5 tips to travel with peace of mind this summer
1. Make sure you have good hinges and locks, such as a high-quality lock and an anti-burglary strip. Check whether your anti-burglary products have the Police Seal of Safe Living.
2. Electronics such as laptops and smartphones are favorites among burglars. Keep them out of sight or take them with you when traveling.
3. Use a remote-controlled lamp to ensure that there is a light on in the house every now and then when you are on holiday.
4. Install a smart doorbell that allows you to keep an eye on things even from a tropical beach.
5. Ask your neighbors to take mail off the doormat and to park their car in your driveway every now and then, so that burglars do not see that you are on vacation.

(1) Desk research conducted by Ring, in which the following sources were consulted: a consumer survey commissioned by Ring by PanelWizard in 2023 among 1,085 Dutch people who sometimes go on holiday, representative by gender, age, family situation, labor participation, highest completed education and region , the police data portal, CCV (the Center for Crime Prevention and Security), CBS, consumer research by Allianz Direct from April 2024 and Brochure against home burglaries (2024)