Did you get a coin, stone or twig on the stairs?
Flower at the door, tape around the door handle or felt-tip pen in the door frame are also some of the signs you should look out for if you are planning a trip.
These are some of the methods burglars use to find out if you are at home, Gjensidige writes in a press release.
Found unknown potatoes in the garden: The following week they had a burglary
Patches and sticks in the door frame
– We have experienced thieves calling the household to offer various home services. They can, for example, say that they will come by to check the Get box, or pretend that they want to sell you an alarm, says police superintendent Tina Berg in the South-East police district in the same press release.
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– We have also seen several cases where things are put on the doormat or sticky notes and sticks are inserted into the door frame. It is generally about placing objects where they obviously do not belong. The thieves then monitor whether the object is moved, which indicates if there is anyone at home.
Do not hang the keys like this!
Avoid homes with alarms
Security expert in the alarm company Verisure, Dagfinn Thorkildsen, says that these are tricks that are used all year round. In addition, the burglars check for snow in front of the house in winter. Then you may want to ask for help from a neighbor who can shovel for you while you are away.
– Our experience is that burglars choose homes without alarms over those with alarms. A well-marked 24-hour alarm system acts as a deterrent, Thorkildsen continues.
– Care about the neighbor
Chief of Police Tonje Reiten in the Oslo police district asks you to take care of the neighbors when they are gone.
– Take regular precautions. Lock doors and close windows. Set the alarm if you have it. Make sure that bicycles and other sports equipment are brought in, preferably in the house instead of the shed. Care about the neighbor’s house. If you know that the neighbor is gone, it’s nice to care if strangers walk around their garden.
According to figures from Reiten, there have been 504 reported serious thefts from homes in the Oslo police district in 2019, 323 serious thefts from homes reported in 2020 and so far this year, 36 serious thefts from homes reported in Oslo have been registered.
– What should we as ordinary citizens pay special attention to now?
– We see a decrease in gross thefts from housing, but there has been a large increase in gross thefts from storage. Many have expensive sports equipment and other expensive items stored in their stalls. Think about whether you can let some of this be stored inside the home?
Fewer burglaries
In 2018, NOK 375 million was stolen from homes and cottages, according to Finance Norway. Even if large sums are stolen, figures show Statistics Norway that the number of reported burglaries in Norway decreased by 18 percent from 2015 to 2019, Gjensidige writes in the press release.
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