Burglary season starts now. Why break-ins rise dramatically in winter.

24 Heures.

A Vaud study shows home break-ins in November and December are 44% higher than those in July and August, according to the Swiss newspaper 24 Heures.

Most break-ins during winter months occur at the end of the afternoon while shops and offices are still open. Why?

According to the local police, criminals like to ensure no one is at home before entering. As the days get shorter, helped by clocks moving back one hour, life gets a lot easier for burglars. By November there is a period during the day when it’s dark and most people are still at work. Criminals look for silent unlit homes and pounce.

The cantonal police recommend simulating presence with light and sound when you are out. This Saturday, 31 October 2015, Lausanne police and the Services Industriels Lausanne (SIL) will be selling 500 light timers for CHF 2 as part of a presentation at the market area on rue Haldimand in Lausanne between 8:30 and 11:30 am. The Ville de Lausanne offers burglary prevention advice here.

Burglaries in Vaud shot up 60% between 2010 and 2012. Fortunately, since the beginning of 2015 they have fallen 40% compared to 2014, according to Grégoire Junod, who works for the city of Lausanne. However “We must remain vigilant” said Pierre-Olivier Gaudard, head of Vaud’s crime prevention division. Discouraging burglars is key.

Full 24 Heures article (in French)

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