The professionals at the Freiburg Police Department explain what you can do to avoid becoming a victim of a burglary.
(BZ). The winter time began on October 25th and thus the “dark season”. Experience shows that the number of break-ins is increasing. Above all, cross-border groups of offenders in the area of responsibility of the Freiburg Police Headquarters ensure increased burglary rates.
In the first three calendar weeks of October, according to a press release in the districts of Waldshut, Lrrach, Emmendingen, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald and the urban district of Freiburg, the police headquarters recorded fewer than ten break-ins per week – but an increase in the numbers cannot be ruled out.
The Freiburg Police Department has been taking care of this phenomenon for years and has achieved a lot with the population. The police crime statistics also confirm this in their figures for the calendar year 2019. 931 burglaries were recorded across the board: a decrease of 398 cases. The head of the security police department in Freiburg, Uwe Oldenburg, attributes this to two main components.
On the one hand, raising awareness among the population. “This includes dialing the police emergency number, 110, if you suspect anything. We’ll come, we’ll sort it out and we’ll help you,” says Oldenburg. On the other hand, the protection of residential property by upgrading technical devices that make it as unattractive as possible for burglars to get in and, ideally, they do without or if the attempt fails.
Detlef Erny, Head of Criminal Inspection 2, explains: “In the past year the PP Freiburg made great efforts to noticeably reduce the number of burglaries. In addition to increasing the visible police presence, the investigative pressure on the groups of intruders active in the triangle was increased.” Erny continues: “The bundling of the investigations against burglar gangs was not only practiced in Germany, but also internationally in cooperation with the French police authorities and Switzerland. The result of bundling the investigations by the criminal police and international cooperation are sharp declines in the area of the WED.
This trend can also be maintained in 2020, since the investigation pressure was consistently maintained. “The investigations are successful when the police receive information from the population and the citizens report suspicious perceptions and people to the police without delay.” the basis for successful investigations, “continues Erny. Ideally, criminal offenses can be prevented.
Citizens can obtain information about burglary protection free of charge from the criminal police advice center and make an appointment in their own four walls. Mechanical security for windows and doors, a good neighborly relationship, automatic lighting or animal imitation functions can also be important for preventing break-ins, says Frank Erny, chief detective in the prevention department.
The prevention department of the Freiburg police station and its criminal police advisory center bert more than 2000 people every year. These consultations are free of charge for citizens and take place in the apartments and houses. During the consultation, the possible entry points are checked and discussed with the apartment owners. A safety recommendation is drawn up in the form of a written weak point analysis.
In addition, the apartment owners receive information on the correct behavior to prevent break-ins and possible confrontation with a burglar. This is followed by advice on possible financial support from the state. The consultation takes an hour on average and is gladly accepted.
The Prevention Unit of the Police Headquarters Freiburg offers advice free of charge. Telephone 07621/17 66 40 (Lrrach) and 07741/831 63 27 (Waldshut-Tiengen).
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