Frightening series

Twilight burglars are in high season: tips!

The perpetrators strike under cover of darkness.

(Bild: LPD NÖ)

Brazen burglars have struck several times throughout Carinthia in the past few days - usually at dusk when their victims are not at home. Recently, however, one perpetrator was caught by surprise. The police give prevention tips and rules of conduct.

The 81-year-old pensioner freezes when she comes home in the early evening and sees a burglar jumping out of a window of her house in Klagenfurt. The woman immediately alerts the police - but the criminal is already over the hill with the stolen jewelry. On the same day, at almost the same time, criminals strike at a house in Poggersdorf. At the same time, criminals ransack an apartment in Klagenfurt.

Due to the current series of coups, the police would like to point out that the so-called "twilight burglars" are back in season - and usually strike between 4 and 9 pm. When they assume that nobody is at home. "The perpetrators use every opportunity available to them to get into the home: They force open patio doors, windows and cellar entrances, use ladders or garden furniture as entry aids," the executive warns.

Prevention tips

• Close windows and patio and balcony doors, even if you are only going away for a short time
• Use timers and motion detectors for indoor and outdoor lighting
• Burglaries can be prevented through good neighborly relations and mutual help.
• Report anything suspicious to the police!
• Ladders, garden furniture and tools lying around can be handy helpers for burglars. Keep them locked away inside the house.

Behavior in the event of contact with the perpetrator

• Give the impression that you are not alone! Call out a name - for example: "Helmut, can you hear that?"
• Switch on the light
• Allow the perpetrator to escape and do not stand in their way
• Memorize as many details as possible of the perpetrator's appearance
• Call the police on 133 and pass on information about the number of perpetrators and direction of escape and keep in contact with the police by telephone!

Do not falsify the evidence
Also particularly important: If you have been the victim of a burglary, alert the police immediately - and do not change or alter anything at the scene of the crime. So as not to falsify the evidence!