Repsol YPF

If you want to avoid disagreeable surprises when you return from your summer break you should follow the authorities advice on how to prevent burglaries and break-ins.

Marks on letterboxes and intercoms
These came to light a little while ago and, although there are no statistics regarding the way burglars use them, it is a good idea for you to check whether your intercom or letterbox have been marked in this way. They are more often found on intercoms, usually near the corresponding flat number. There are many different types, but the most common are those made up of vertical or horizontal lines indicating how many people live in the property. Other marks indicate when the home is empty, whether it contains any valuable objects or whether the owner is elderly. There set rules on the meaning of these marks since each group of burglars can establish their own.

The best piece of advice is for you to check whether your intercom or letterbox have been marked in this way. If you find any marks, try to rub them out so that they become illegible. Also check whether other neighbours have been marked and let them know so that they can remove them as well. If the building has been burgled repeatedly, it is essential to seek out these marks.

The increasing value of prevention
Dissuading delinquents is a difficult, but not impossible, task. We should at least make an effort to put in place all the mechanisms to prevent such criminals from clearing out your home. If you are leaving for a long period do not tell strangers and give the keys to your letterbox to a trusted neighbour or to a friend who lives nearby so that they can collect your post now and again.

The Securitypoint report also states that in 48% of burglaries, the criminals came in through the main entrance, which is why the installation of a reinforced door is one of the first options that should be considered. If your wallet stretches that far you can install an independent alarm system or else one connected to a security firm. Although these are dearer, this system ensures that security guards will head for your property to check things out and prevent any burglary if possible as soon as the alarm is triggered. 

Trick the burglars
There is another less expensive way to put off the burglars. The idea is that when you set off on holiday you give the impression that the house is still inhabited. Leave the blinds half up and install a timer to switch on the lights at a specific time during the day or night in one or more of the rooms, and to switch on an electric device (TV, radio, etc) to give the impression that there are people in the home.

If you still return from holiday and are met with the disagreeable surprise that you have been burgled, first of all keep calm and immediately call the police. As you wait for them to arrive, dont touch anything which may serve as evidence to find the culprits.