Burglary in basements is on the rise – the pandemic effect may be behind it

The curve of reported burglaries in attics and basements points strongly upwards. In 2022, a record 20,444 burglaries in attic and basement storage were reported, according to statistics from the Crime Prevention Council, BRÅ. This is an increase of 70 percent compared to ten years earlier, and it may have to do with changed habits during the pandemic.

– One reason could be that we still have a different behavior pattern. We work much more at home than we did before the pandemic, says Lina Nilsson, who is an advisory expert at the Theft Protection Association.

Before the pandemic, house burglaries were more common than basement burglaries. In 2012, the number of house burglaries was just over 17,000 and basement burglaries around 12,000. But then the trend reversed.

– We now see that burglaries in villas and apartments have decreased by almost exactly the same amount as burglaries in basements and attics have increased, says Lina Nilsson.

For the thieves, it seems to have been more difficult to break into homes when more people worked at home and spent more time in the home. In 2022, only 7,893 house burglaries were reported in Sweden.

This is how you protect yourself

Most storage doors are thin or made of chicken wire. Therefore, the most important protective measure already starts at the door to the property, according to Lina Nilsson.

– It must be really good protection, it must be a good door, it must be a good lock. Break protection is also good to have.

It is important to stop the thieves even before they reach the storage areas, she believes.

– The external protection becomes very important. Above all, also the entrance to the property itself. Because once you’re inside, it becomes easier.