5 tips to prevent burglary in 2026

Burglars are lazy, so use that to your advantage

That may sound odd, but it's true. In 13 years of security work in Limburg we have seen it time and time again: burglars always go for the easiest target. A house without an alarm next to a house with one? They'll go for the one without. That's simply how it works.

That's why burglary prevention isn't necessarily about expensive systems. It's about making your property look less attractive than your neighbour's. Here are five things that genuinely work, based on what we come across every day at customers' homes and premises in the region.

1. Make it visible

We still see it: a property with perfectly good security, but none of it is visible. No camera in sight, no siren, no sticker. That's a waste, because visibility is half the battle. A burglar who sees a siren and a camera simply walks on to the next house. It's that simple.

Fit an external siren (it doesn't even have to be connected, although it really should be). Position cameras so they can be seen from the street. Put stickers on windows and doors, because yes, that really does help. And don't forget outdoor lighting: a light that switches on when it detects movement is enough on its own to scare someone off.

2. An alarm system linked to an alarm receiving centre

An alarm system is the most effective measure against burglary. That's not a sales pitch; it's simply what the figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show. Homes with an alarm are up to three times less likely to be targeted.

But something does have to happen when it goes off. An alarm that just beeps in an empty street is no use to anyone. With a connection to an alarm receiving centre, the signal is picked up 24/7 by an operator. They use photo verification to check what's going on and, if necessary, send the police. And not just any call-out: a Priority 1 dispatch.

That makes a big difference. Priority 1 means the police treat it as a genuine burglary. Not "we'll come when we have time", but an immediate response. That's the difference between an attempted burglary and a successful one.

3. Cameras in the right place

We regularly install cameras for customers who want them in the wrong place. The front garden, the driveway, the shed. It's understandable that those spots come to mind, but the statistics tell a different story. Most burglars get in through the front door (yes, really), the back door or patio doors, or through ground-floor windows at the side or rear of the house.

Put your cameras there. And invest in a system with smart detection, so you only get an alert when a person is detected. Not for every cat that wanders through the garden.

4. Don't forget the basics

Technology is great, but a camera system costing a few thousand euros won't help if the back door has only a single lock.

Start with SKG*** locks (three stars, the highest rating under the Dutch SKG lock certification scheme) on all external doors. This really is the minimum. Fit lockable window handles on the ground floor. Make sure there is nothing to climb on near the walls of the house: put the ladder away, don't leave the wheelie bin against the house, and secure the drainpipe. And cut back tall hedges near windows, because they give burglars cover.

Measures like these cost little but make a real difference.

5. Hide the fact that you're away

We live in an age where people post their holidays on Instagram. Burglars check social media too, and that's no exaggeration.

Use timer switches or smart bulbs so there's a light on in the evening. Don't let post pile up or parcels sit outside the door. Ask a neighbour to drive past the house now and then. And if you're away for longer, have someone move the car so it looks as though someone is at home.

The best approach: combine them

No single measure works perfectly on its own. It's the combination that makes the difference. Good locks mean that breaking in takes a long time. An alarm ensures it is reported immediately. Cameras provide evidence and make verification possible. And visible security means they don't even try in the first place.

You don't have to do it all at once. Start with the basics and build from there. And if you'd like to know where your property is vulnerable, we'll come round free of charge to take a look with you. No obligation.

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