Police in northern Zealand and eastern Jutland are reporting an extraordinary rise in the number of house break-ins in recent months.
Last weekend alone police received 130 separate reports of residential break-ins and stolen goods from houses or apartments in the suburbs north of Copenhagen.
The same trend of a dramatic rise in residential break-ins is being reported in Aarhus this year. A study by the Østjyllands Politi revealed a 26.5 percent rise in the number of thefts between the first half of 2010 and the first half of 2011.
Authorities in Aarhus said the trend was especially vexing, because more police were already on special assignment to deter the breaking-and-entering robberies.
“We are already making a big effort to reduce break-ins, but we have nothing to show for it,” police superintendent Mogens Brøndum told Jyllands-Posten newspaper.
Police in northern Zealand were also nonplussed by the sharp rise in break-ins.
“To my recollection, I can’t remember that we have ever had so many break-ins at private residences,” Henrik Suhr, a spokesperson for Nordsjællands Politi, told public broadcaster DR.
In reaction Nordsjællands Politi has implemented a special text messaging number to make it easier for people with tip-offs about burglars to come forward with the information.
Northern Zealand residents who notice something suspicious relating to a burglary can send a text message to TRYK POLITI. The police will contact them by mobile. Alternatively, residents can also phone the police by dialing 1-1-4.
As of Friday the hotline had already produced one arrest based on information from a witness.
Police on both sides of the Storebælt sound are urging people to report any suspicious activity as quickly as possible, so that the culprits can be caught.
Police are also recommending that property owners take extra precautions to lock their doors and windows, making it a little more difficult for unwanted guests to enter.
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