– There have been several home burglaries in the Østfold area, writes the Øst police district’s online patrol in a Facebook post.
– Call the police
Daniel Holm explains to the feds that they are now warning and asking for help to prevent break-ins because they have seen an increase in the number of break-ins in the district recently.
He is section leader in investigations at Sarpsborg police station.
– In Sarpsborg alone, we had ten burglaries in the period from the beginning of March until Easter. I know there have also been break-ins in several other places, but not on the same scale, says Holm.
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Holm explains that several of the burglaries may appear to have been committed by the same people. We are probably talking about profit criminals.
– We have no experience of these being violent people, and they tend to act when there is no one at home, so I wouldn’t say it is a danger to any people, but it is boring, and not least very unpleasant to have a break-in his house, says Holm.
– In very few cases, we have seen break-ins where there has been someone at home, but then the burglars have tried to escape as soon as they are discovered. Then they probably thought the house was empty when it wasn’t, he continues.
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Follows the houses
The police suspect that the perpetrators have followed the houses in advance. Thus, they have an overview of the fact that no one is at home when the burglary is to be committed.
Furthermore, the police state that they often see a similarity in the method of burglary.
Among other things, it has been noticed that light bulbs on outdoor lamps are often turned out slightly to put the lighting out of play.
– We suspect that this is done before the actual break-in takes place, the police write.
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– Windows are listed
In order to avoid the alarm system in the house, the police state that the burglars often use an ingenious method to enter the house;
– Windows are listed. In houses that have an alarm, the perpetrators have often entered through windows that do not have an alarm. As a rule, this applies to bedrooms and bathrooms, it is stated in the Facebook post.
And what is stolen is often expensive jewelery or other valuables.
To avoid break-ins, the police make the following calls:
- Check the light bulbs on the outdoor lighting.
- Do not put expensive jewelery in the bathroom or bedroom.
- If you have an alarm – make sure there are also sensors on windows connected to the bathroom and bedroom.
- Be vigilant.
In addition, Holm recommends having an alarm installed so that it works in all rooms, and that you don’t leave the house looking uninhabited when you leave.
– Feel free to leave some lights on, and ask a neighbor to take in the mail so that the letterbox doesn’t fill up, he says.
Follows E6
He goes on to say that Fredrikstad often largely escapes such burglary raids. This is because of the location in relation to E6.
– Historically, there has been a bigger problem in areas such as Sarpsborg, Råde, Rygge and Moss, says Holm.
Nevertheless, the entire district is encouraged to be vigilant.
– Please keep an eye on your neighbour, and report if you see anything suspicious. If you see a burglary being committed, we ask that you call the police, says Holm.
