In summer, especially around the mid-August holidays, the risk of burglars breaking into the house increases, as the number of houses left unattended during the holidays increases. Thus, “house mice” act undisturbed since they do not feel the presence of prying eyes.
In fact, the thief planning a robbery watches the victims, favoring unoccupied houses and lonely elderly people, thus reducing the risk of being discovered. But with some precautions it is possible to neutralize the plans of the scoundrels, avoid unpleasant surprises when you return home.
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Home thefts: a phenomenon in sharp decline
The latest study by the Centre for Social Investment Studies (CENSIS), carried out with the contribution of the Ministry of the Interior, highlights that 52.8% of Italians are afraid of being burgled at home. Fear is, however, higher among the elderly (57.6%) and among those who live in a detached house or villa (58.6%). Furthermore, 18.7% of the population has personally suffered the intrusion of thieves into their home, while 44.5% have acquaintances among the victims.
However, according to the CENSIS survey, it appears that From 2013 to 2022, home thefts and burglaries have decreased significantly (-46.9%).
In the Marche, compared to other regions, the probability of thieves sneaking into the house is lower. Next come Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige, while Lazio, Campania, Puglia and Lombardy are the regions most at risk.
Defending yourself against thieves: help from psychology
Finding your home ransacked by thieves is an invasion of privacy, which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The victim can overcome the accumulated tension by expressing their emotions to friends and neighbors, and also by contacting a psychologist if necessary.
In addition, it is essential to tidy up the house, as well as to arrange the doors and windows, thus avoiding the possible return of thieves. Finally, it is necessary to resume habits to get rid of the feeling of vulnerability. The doctor Nicole Adami, psychotherapist of the Regional Emergency Society of Bergamo, explained to BuoneNotizie.it that the victim “She needs to get back to normal soon, without avoiding doing certain things for fear of being hit again.”
To protect yourself from home burglaries, in addition to taking out insurance, it is useful to understand the psychological approach of the thief. Researchers of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill They checked, by following more than 400 prisoners, the criteria they followed to choose the houses to burgle, as well as the difficulties encountered. The study revealed that Thieves avoid populated areas and are discouraged by guardrails and alarm/video surveillance systems. Even a barking dog is a valid deterrent.
7 Moves to Defeat Thieves
What else can you do to prevent burglars from entering your home? Here are 7 effective measures, selected from those suggested by the police.
- Never write names or addresses on the key ring. The thief, coming into possession of the house, will not locate the house.
- Do not store money and valuables in cupboards, drawers, clothes and vases, behind pictures or under beds and carpets. A narrow attic, on the other hand, may be suitable as a hiding place, as it will be difficult for the thief to sneak in.
- Never post on social pictures or messages from holiday locations. The thief, knowing that we are far from home, will be tempted to rob us.
- Let some light shine through the shutters. This will make the house appear inhabited.
- Do not open the door to strangers. You will have to make them understand, by speaking loudly and keeping the door closed, that we are calling the Police and the Carabinieri.
- Keep shutters and windows closed, especially at night and if the house is on the first floor. The “house mice”, discouraged, will change their objective.
- Keep your mailbox empty, relying on your neighbors. The complicity and solidarity between those who live in neighboring houses are in fact the bitter enemies of thieves.
Solidarity and complicity between neighbors are the enemy of thieves (photo by Valiant Made from Unsplash)
There are only a few gestures to defeat thieves and protect the house: whoever has done it has succeeded!
