Number of house burglary on wane

A total of 584 incidents of house burglaries were reported to police by the end of May this year, which is 67 lower than in the stipulated period of the previous year, said the National Police Board in a press release on Thursday.

In 2020, the number of house burglary reports received by the Police was 1,836, with the Police solving 686 cases, or about 37 percent of the total. In 2019, the corresponding numbers were 1,980 house burglaries, with about 30 percent solved.

With the summer holidays approaching, people start to move to their summer cottages, leaving their normal homes empty the police urged people to cooperate to prevent and investigate house burglary.

“The downward trend in house burglaries is how it should be, and we hope that the good tendency persists,” said Tuomas Pöyhönen, Superintendent of the National Police Board.

The types of crime recorded include aggravated theft and attempted aggravated theft, associated with forced entry into apartment.

According to Pöyhönen, transborder crime has been a core challenge in house burglaries. Through the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the share of foreign burglars has gone down.

This year, the number of foreigners suspected of house burglary crimes has been just over seven percent, while their share was about 12 percent last year. In 2019, that percentage was over 26.

Superintendent Pöyhönen, however, believed that the pandemic restrictions are not the only reason for a declining numbers of house burglaries as the preventive measures have also played a role.

“We should all be aware of house burglary risks. Prevention is the best policy here too – it may totally prevent criminal acts or at least make them more difficult to perform. It is always advisable to report any untypical observations to the Police,” he added.

The Police urged the holidaymakers to follow some instructions to reduce the risk of burglary.

The instructions included telling neighbours about the travelling and request them to keeping an eye on home, using well-functioning locks, Illuminating house during dusk and dark, introducing alarm systems, cameras and alarm warning signs and not to disclose information of the holidays and travels in the social media.