Technology, watchdog or neighbours? The right burglary protection stops burglars at the door.

How do burglars get into houses and flats?

In detached houses, burglars usually enter via accessible ground-floor windows; only 20 per cent enter via the front door. However, in block of flats, they most often enter via the apartment entrance door.

If there is an accessible basement door, the burglar can work there well out of sight. Some balconies are easily accessible via the garage roof, and the balcony or patio door can be quickly pried open. In anonymous block of flats with many residents, the ground floor is particularly at risk of burglary. By the way: almost half of all burglars strike during the day.

How can I tell if my flat or house is at risk of a break-in?

The risk of a burglary depends on the situation. Your home is particularly attractive to burglars if

• it is close to the motorway. This allows burglars to get there and away quickly.
• it is in a secluded location with no neighbours nearby. The police often recommend higher security levels for mechanical protection, as well as an alarm system with a direct wire to a security firm or the police. However, this is expensive.
• there is a 3-metre-high thuja hedge all round or the estate is overgrown. This suggests that someone is isolating themselves. Burglars can work undisturbed.

What protects against burglary: safety engineering, guard dogs or neighbours deter thieves?

“Incidentally, a professional burglar can rip a security door that hasn’t been fitted with proper fastening out of its anchorage in under a minute. Often, a cheap online purchase has been hastily and incorrectly assembled by the homeowner themselves. Only to be broken out of the wall within seconds during a break-in. In contrast, an expert ensures the door is firmly fastened to the brick work.” (Lutz Brauneck, Head of Development/Construction at PRÜM)

When it comes to burglary protection, mechanical safety engineering takes priority. This primarily refers to the burglar-resistant flat entrance door or street door. This alone goes a long way towards deterring burglars and thieves. Even a massive oak door, for example, can be made significantly more burglar-proof with the right lock-system and professional, secure erection within brick work.

Also important: are there any windows that can be reached quickly from ground level? If so, these must also be secured.

Light deters thieves and provides security: that is why lighting with motion detectors is a good investment. Burglars shy away from the ‘spotlight’. However, the motion detector must be assembled out of reach so that it cannot be torn down or turned away.

Speaking of light: leave a few lights on indoors here and there when you’re not at home. That also deters burglars.

Many people would rather spend money on the design of their front door than on burglary protection. Yet a burglar-proof door for a flat or house is available for as little as €1,000, plus professional erection. Incidentally, many multifunctional or soundproof doors already include burglary protection. But: please always check the certificate!

Certified resistance class: burglar-resistant in accordance with DIN standard EN 1627

The certificate applies to a burglar-proof system. If single components are missing or the door has been assembled incorrectly, the complete burglary protection system is compromised.

The test certificate confirms: This door is burglar-resistant. This is because the DIN standard EN 1627 is only awarded to doors that have been checked according to strict criteria. The lock side, hinge side, panel or glass insert, door leaf and the entire internal structure are all designed to withstand burglars. No one can simply kick this door in.

On the test stand, a sample is completely dismantled as part of a vulnerability analysis to search for any weak points. A second, new door is then put through the test. The aim is to overcome the door. Only a door system ‘built as a single unit’ can withstand the test.

What are the benefits of safety engineering? Stay away from dummy cameras!

The police advise against using dummy cameras: if a red light flashes, every burglar knows this box is ‘fake’. A real video camera doesn’t need that. Even so, they’re usually of little use. The footage is often too dark and blurry. What’s more, many burglars remain unrecognisable thanks to balaclavas.