Lietuvos draudimas initiated Lithuania's first survey of convicts to find out the twists and turns of household burglaries. The unique project revealed a sad truth: more than half of the convicts admitted stealing someone’s property in Lithuania was easy. This survey was conducted by members of market researcher TNS Gallup in co-operation with the Prison Department under the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice, and the findings were summarised by AB Lietuvos draudimas analysts.

The survey ran in September this year. It involved 386 convicts from the country's different houses of correction and inspectorates. 

“In the press, we often happen to come across police advice how to protect yourself from actions of light-fingered personae. But what do those sentenced for property theft say? Before recently, there has been no information on the issue in the public domain. Therefore to help citizens grasp the burglar’s philosophy and viewpoint, we carried out a structured survey. We were surprised at the openness of convicts. People often think that a steady door or a pet-dog at home will keep them safe from burglaries, but convicts say normally this is not enough. People who suffer from thieves apply to insurance to protect their property, unfortunately, often already after their painful experiences. Research revealed that for an experienced burglar there are no unbreakable locks or other barriers, if they head for property saved for years,“ Vaidotas Krencius, director of Lietuvos dradimas Strategy, Customer and Marketing Department, says commenting on the survey findings.

Stealing is easy

Analysis of the survey findings showed that as many as 59% of convicts think committing a property theft is a piece of cake. The “business” of property thefts seems difficult only to very young convicts under 25.

Convicts who argue that stealing in Lithuania is easy say the most prevalent reasons include insufficient means of security (57%), talented and professional burglars (23%), alienation between neighbours (10%), economic situation favourable for crimes (8%) and citizens’ gullibility, openness and habit to boast of their property (7%).

“If security does exist, normally it’s restricted to the minimum. People don’t get insurance, don’t install alarms and have cheap locks and doors mounted. They think – burglars will never touch my apartment, I have nothing, they'll go somewhere else. By not protecting people provoke burglaries themselves,” the convicts responded.

People don’t protect their bank cards and passwords

Money, bank cards (76%), and jewellery (73%) are the most popular attractors for burglars. What is interesting is that convicts have a special sneer for people who keep codes and e-banking passwords next to their bank cards. One in four convicts indicated that from apartments they steal documents, which they use afterwards for fraud and plundering assets from accounts.

The second most popular category of articles lifted from apartments and houses includes cell phones (55%), laptops and desktop computers (51%), video and audio equipment (47%), household equipment (37%) and photo cameras (33%). This category is popular as the items are fast and easily merchantable. Easy merchantability is also the reason for stealing fur apparel (19%) and bikes (17%).

Top hiding places in households: wardrobes, beds and unsafe safes

Convicts are also well conversant with the hiding places where people keep money, jewellery and other precious articles. Fifty per cent of respondents said people most frequently hid values in wardrobes, 46% in safes and another 23% in beds. “In their replies respondents also indicate other different places where people hide money. Believe me, some of them are stunningly naive: flowers, cornices,” says Krencius commenting on people’s inventiveness.
  

Respondents say even a safe cannot protect from burglary: “In many cases safes are ridiculous, most can be simply carried away. What people care about is to lock them, and that they can be easily removed – no one considers that. If there is a safe, the burglar will take it along," one of the sincere respondents pointed out.

Planned burglary in the hope of big capture

The opinion of convicts on the planning of burglary divided in two: 45% said property burglaries were always planned in advance whereas 44% argued some were planned and some were not. Burglars admit that spontaneous burglaries are most often attempted from stores or apartments to lift petty articles such as wallets or unprotected commodities. This kind of “deeds” are normally what drinking burglars and drug addicts venture.

“Findings from the survey showed that advance preparations for burglaries usually take place where a big capture is anticipated. As many as 70% of respondents said a burglary plan was normally prepared by more than one person. Likewise, criminal acts are committed by more than one as there are different roles: some watch and safeguard the object while others specialise in the burglary itself,“ said representative of Lietuvos draudimas commenting on the survey results.

According to convicts, to implement a burglary plan you need to know three things: when the owner is out of home, are there security systems and what is the value of the owner's property. To collect this information they use techniques widely spread among burglars: watch and follow the person of interest (68%), collect information through their relatives, co-workers, friends or kids (51%) and neighbours (26%). It happens that thieves pretend to be sales agents or workers of social or special services to collect the information they need.

Asked about the most suitable time of the day to commit burglaries, more than half of the respondents said stealing was convenient any time – “the important thing is knowing when the owners are out and having a burglary plan”, convicts point out. Two thirds argue burglaries brisk up during vacation, holidays or the business hours.

Alarm and CCTV cameras as biggest scarecrows

When planning their criminal acts, burglars evaluate the obstacles that may come their way. The toughest ones, they say, include security alarm systems, CCTV cameras and safes (70% – 79%). Armoured doors, several door-locks installed, window blinds or a home-kept dog (54% – 57%) may also be somewhat troublesome. Only one in four respondents see coded locks or locked staircases as an obstacle. A successful burglary is also favoured by neighbourhood indifference – 18% of respondents said neighbours did nothing even if they suspected a burglary.

Convicts say installed security systems somewhat encumber burglars’ job, but don’t make them give up the "business". Professional property thieves know ways and proper means which help overcome the barriers. For instance, they use passkeys, produce keys to open doors, spoil the alarm systems, etc.

Respondents point out that a well-planned burglary is normally accomplished in a flash if there is no alarm, cameras or other obstacles. Every other surveyed convict says breaking into a home takes 3 to 5 minutes with an armoured door and 2 to 3 minutes with an ordinary door. Thus the average time difference is all but one and a half minute.

Reps of burglary business advise being more responsible about your property

There are many security means which encumber burglaries, but burglars say they are not widely used by Lithuanian citizens, which brings success to their business.

Asked how they thought residents should take care of the security of their household property, convicts referred to the two basic ways: installing alarm systems connected to security services (37%) and insuring your property (22%). Another, more significant, group of “advice” relates to protecting money and jewellery. Convicts recommend keeping them in banks, depositories (17%) or safes (13%).

“We can conclude that if burglars “have set their eyes on you”, unfortunately, there is no way to prevent it, and only insurance can help you cover financial loss," Krencius summarised.