Spain continues to be one of the safest countries in the world, although on the other hand there has been an increase in burglaries in Spain. But while the number of violent burglaries has fallen since 2012, the figures related to burglaries are one of the few statistics that have not reached a peak.
Increase in burglaries
In crimes against property in Spain, only 10% of thefts are planned, the remaining 90% are improvised. Seventy per cent of burglaries take place during the day; the remaining 30 per cent at night. The days on which most burglaries usually take place are Mondays and Fridays. The months usually coincide with January, March and August.
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Robberies and thefts in Barcelona and Catalonia
In Catalonia, in December 2017, 3,220 families reported having been victims in their homes. The Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) project “is not about arresting more, but about arresting better”. 175 suspects were arrested, but more importantly, more than 100 were imprisoned, according to data from the Ministry of Interior published by Epdata (www.epdata.es).
Catalonia is a port of arrival for gangs dedicated to housebreaking. More than half of the Colombians arrested in 2008 for this crime had no previous record; there are no images, police records, fingerprints, genetic profiles, addresses, linked telephones or vehicles they may have used. Despite this, the highest percentage of those arrested were Spanish nationals. And 25% were first time detainees.
Burglary in the home, even without violence, causes an indescribable feeling of helplessness in the victims. Beyond the financial losses, there are the after-effects. Some victims need to move house because they find it difficult to get rid of their fear.
Faced with this increase in home burglaries, it is normal for people to look for ways to protect their valuables away from the reach of criminals. Thus, alarms, video surveillance systems and safe deposit boxes continue to be options for those who prefer to invest in measures that allow them greater security and peace of mind in their homes and businesses.
How to prevent violent attacks in your home
We will now give you some tips on how to prevent burglaries and robberies:
- The first piece of advice is to always use common sense to avoid getting into uncomfortable and dangerous situations.
- Always put your valuable belongings in your safe. The safest place is always the safe, no matter what alarm system or security door you have, always use a quality safe.
- If you are confronted with a violent robbery situation, do not hesitate to shout or run, as long as you see that it is possible.
- In the event that we encounter the group of robbers head-on, we should always keep a safe distance between us and them, and we should remain calm about the robbery situation.
- Notify the police immediately after the thieves have left.
The most important asset we possess is our health and that of our loved ones, which is why it is never advisable to play the hero and protect life.
