Every year during the holiday and New Year period, the number of thefts rises significantly. At this time, neighbors’ vigilance is relaxed—they are usually absorbed in preparations for these few most important days of the year. Preoccupied with their duties, they fail to notice situations in which they should intervene or alert the police.

Before leaving, do not inform too many people that we are planning a longer absence. We should also avoid talking about valuable items kept at home. Professional burglars most often conduct what is known as neighborhood reconnaissance, which helps them determine which apartments or houses will become easy targets.

We should also not record messages on an answering machine indicating that the house or apartment will be empty for some time. It is best to entrust the keys to good friends who will check on the apartment—they can open a window and turn on a light, thereby discouraging thieves who may be watching our belongings and waiting for a suitable opportunity.

Remember:

  • if you own a detached house, make sure it has a solid fence and properly illuminate your property. Also consider installing an automatic light switch with a so-called presence simulator;
  • install a professional alarm and anti-burglary system in your apartment or house, as well as an intercom (gate intercom, video intercom);
  • install security doors;
  • install certified locks on entrance doors, windows and balcony doors (installing complicated locks, bolts, chains and latches on standard plywood and fiberboard doors will not help, since they can easily be pushed out of the frame);
  • in ground-floor apartments, install anti-burglary roller shutters instead of bars on windows and doors, which would make it easier to reach the upper floors;
  • if you intend to keep a large amount of cash in your apartment or own very valuable items, install a permanently secured armored cabinet or safe. However, consider whether it would be safer to rent a safe-deposit box for such purposes;
  • mark, photograph and describe valuable items;
  • keep the details of your home security confidential and do not disclose them to anyone except close people with whom you live. Protect such information from children. Do not flaunt your wealth.

Notify the police when:

  • you notice people unknown to you loitering without purpose near your home. Remember their appearance carefully. Your observations may prove very helpful in establishing the identity of burglars;
  • you see strangers or a car on your neighbor’s property, while you know they are not at home;
  • you notice in the area where you live a person wearing a balaclava or otherwise covering their face, or a stranger carrying larger items (bags, boxes, fence elements, etc.);
  • a stranger unexpectedly visits you, claiming to be looking for an address, one of the neighbors or other information about the area.