Burglaries fell sharply in the spring due to the corona (Covid-19) pandemic, as people followed the general advice to stay at home. Which was a good thing, because it saved Finns from a worse pandemic and more disease. Now the burglars are on the move again as restrictions have been lifted and people have started to move more freely. During this pandemic, Finns have become particularly enthusiastic about domestic travel and cottage holidays, which means they are away from home and their private houses more.
According to Statistics Finland's research, there are on average more than 6 burglaries of dwellings every day in Finland. Summer is the peak season for burglars, when people are on holiday and away from home. When you go on holiday, it's a good idea to take photos of your home and valuables. If there is a burglary or something else unexpected during the summer, it will be easier to identify what has been lost. This will make it easier to list destroyed and stolen items with the insurance company and to get compensation.
A burglar can get not only financially valuable possessions but also emotionally valuable items. Such items of sentimental value are not necessarily replaced by any amount of money, even if they are of negligible monetary value they are unique items. In addition to the financial loss, the impact of a break-up is often emotionally draining and creates extra coping work in the midst of the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It can be distressing or even frightening to live at home after a break-in.
The Condominium Act requires a shareholder to take good care of an apartment. If, despite everything, your home is broken into, the housing company is responsible for the broken doors and windows. However, the tenant is responsible for any damage caused to furniture inside the apartment. It is advisable to have as comprehensive home insurance as possible for owner-occupied houses and, if you rent or live in a housing association, to have at least comprehensive insurance for your contents.
Here are tips to protect your home from burglars:
1. Make sure all doors and windows have good locks
2. Make sure that doors, windows and other locks are locked and that the locks work
3. do not give thieves a visual barrier and a place to work, e.g. trees and bushes
4. Invest in outdoor lighting that automatically switches on when you move
5. install slotted bars on the flush door to prevent the door from swinging open
6. Remind the building management to change the door codes regularly
7. Do not trust strangers. Do not let strangers in.
8. Make sure that the doors to common areas are locked.
9. Do not share detailed holiday plans on social media
10. Keep your home looking lived in: make sure someone comes to do your yard work while you're away. A long lawn and wilted flowers are a good tip for thieves
11. Get a remotely monitored alarm system and keep the alarm system visible
12. do not leave items in the yard that could facilitate access to the home, such as tools, in plain sight
13. Agree with your neighbours about surveillance
14. ask a neighbour to empty their letterbox or move mail to a holiday address
15. place an information embargo: criminals can collect car registration numbers from the airport car park and use them to find out the address details of the car owners. Empty homes can then be broken into. If you want to ensure that your address information does not fall into the wrong hands through your car registration details, you can set a data sharing ban. You can place an information disclosure block at https://www.traficom.fi/fi/asioi-kanssamme/tee-tiedonluovutuskielto
