The number of burglaries in Hamburg rose by around 30 percent in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period last year. The increase tends to be due to a normalization of social life after the corona pandemic, said a police spokeswoman. The current number of burglaries is still 35 percent below that of the relevant period in 2019 and 30 percent below that of the first eight months of the Corona year 2020.

Working from home and lockdowns had not made it easy for the perpetrators. The increased police presence to monitor the corona measures should also have prevented burglaries, it said. The police also ran the publicity campaign "In Hamburg you look" and carried out priority operations to combat this type of crime.

Prevention events are also to be held this fall. The spokeswoman said October 30th, when winter begins, will be used nationwide by the police as a burglary protection day for educational work. There are information stands in the Hamburg police departments until the pre-Christmas period.

Burglaries are not only committed in the dark. However, the police recommend lighting apartments and houses in parallel with security technology. But because electricity has to be saved, low-consumption LED lamps and timers should be used. "From a police point of view, citizens have to be just as careful this winter as in other winters," emphasized the spokeswoman.

According to police crime statistics, 2,204 completed and attempted burglaries were recorded in Hamburg last year, 36 percent fewer than in 2020. It was the absolute low since statistics began in 1971, it said. In the majority of cases it was just an attempt.

Police crime statistics 2021 initiative for burglary protection day