Break-in numbers remain among the highest in Europe

Denmark rolls in at second place for number of household burglaries per year

A new report from the website of the crime prevention advice centre, Det Kriminalpræventive Råd, shows that Denmark comes in a sorry second on the list for the number of break-ins per home across Europe.

In 2012, around 43,000 homes across the country were broken into – the equivalent of five household burglaries every hour.

The analysis was published on the centre's website last month based on data taken from Eurostat. The report states that only one country had it worse than the Danes: Greece.

With the exception of Denmark, the Nordic countries fared much better, with Finland performing best.

However, the country with the least amount of break-ins per home in Europe was Slovakia. 

Lock your doors and windows
Danish researchers suggest that the high number of break-ins could be because Danish homes are simply not secure enough and because the country attracts a high number of criminal tourists.

READ ALSO: Number of break-ins falls, but we're still number one

There is a long way to go before the Danes can match the security levels of neighbouring countries such as Sweden and Germany.

The Danish police website advises citizens on how to prevent break-ins: for example, installing alarms and leaving lights and televisions on when not at home.

They also advise residents to sign up with Nabohjælp, an organisation aimed at reducing burglaries.




Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.