Burglaries "take place mostly in the morning"

Burglaries take place in the urban environment between 8 pm and 6 am, but mostly in the morning, while in the rural environment 60 percent of them happen at night, according to the chief of the Institute for Crime Prevention and Research of the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police, Constantin Stroescu.

Those who commit burglaries are usually men between the age of 14 and 40, who are unemployed, have a low study level and a criminal record.

Constantin Stroescu also explained what makes burglars break into people’s homes.

“The disregard concerning the ways of access into the house, the lack of alarm systems and racks on the lower floors, but also on the last floors, the tendency to keep a big amount of money first of all, as well as also some goods and valuable assets inside the house, the exaggerated trust and allowing unknown persons to enter the house.”

“The criminals usually chose persons who have a difficulty in stopping them, those who have a disability, the elders and those who live alone”, said chief of the Institute for Crime Prevention and Research.

“Almost 15 percent of the property crimes are burglaries, in 36 percent of the cases the burglars uses an open door or window to get in, and in over 60 percent of the cases they force their way into a house”, Constantin Stroescu added while launching the campaign “Be cautious.

Burglars never sleep”, which will take place between December 2011 and January 2012, since the winter holidays are preferred by burglars, according to the chief.

As for the wanted properties, criminals prefer mostly money in 29.9 percent of the burglaries, electronic gear in 21.2 percent of the cases, mobile phones in 16 percent of the cases and jewels in 13.8 percent of the cases.

Translated by: Violeta Mavrodin
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University