"Inn of the good thief:
here the guest is robbed
with great moderation"
José Bergamín.
Summer is here and with it the vacation dates. But the supposed tranquility of these days can be altered by the numerous risks that appear behind the doors of houses when we go on a trip, and especially if some professional thief realizes that they are uninhabited.
For a few years now, people have begun to become aware of the importance of the security factor. First it was the Bank that took measures to protect itself, then came the others: shopping centers, hotels, official organizations... But, as the strongest increased their security, the defenselessness of the weakest became more manifest.
The criminals quickly realized that they were making their job more and more difficult and quickly changed their objectives and moved towards easier ones. And the house has become the easiest of all.
Theft is the most worrying risk that threatens the home. The statistics of burglaries are growing alarmingly and although these occur throughout the year, in summer, the figures skyrocket.
Logically, it is easier for a thief to act when no one can interrupt his work, when fewer possible unexpected visits can startle him. The ideal situation to clean a house is one in which, in addition to the tenant of the house in question, the remaining neighbors of the building or a majority of them are absent. Therefore, it is not surprising that the summer season is the favorite of professionals from other people's property to make their August.
Knowing this predilection of thieves, it would not be bad to remember that the entrance door of the house must always meet minimum security conditions; that you should not open the door to strangers, and if you have to do so, always use the peephole and the security chain, and that you should distrust technical services that have not been requested. In addition, when the home is empty, even for a short period of time, it will be kept locked.
Regarding long absences, it is recommended to perfectly close all entrances to the house; do not leave visible signs that the house is unoccupied, ask a neighbor or family member to collect the mail from the mailbox, do not comment on the absence to unknown people; never leave jewelry or money at home and it is convenient for a neighbor to have a contact telephone number in case they need to notify you.
The most vulnerable point of the house is the access door. Maximum attention must be paid to it. In 80% of burglaries, entry is through the door. However, and against all logic, it is the most unprotected point.
In the prevention and eradication of crimes against homes, the State Security Forces and Corps have a lot to say and are one of the main points of support and protection that citizens have.
All homes are exposed to this risk and more and better security measures are necessary. You only have to look at the statistics: one in every hundred homes has been burglarized in our country. And, as the poet said: "I thought that with time / the robberies would end, / but they are increasing / like the hours of the day".
Francisco Arias Solis
