Fewer Dutch stores robbed last year, more ATM bombings

Last year a total of 276 shops were robbed, compared to 310 in 2015, according to figures from Dutch retail association Detailhandel Nederland. But while robberies are decreasing, criminals are committing more ramraids and ATM bombings, NOS reports.

The number of registered store robberies has never been so low, according to the association. Over the last seven years, store robberies dropped by a massive 70 percent. This can be attributed to political attention to this type of crime and the establishment of the Robberies Taskforce, according to Detailhandel Nederland.

The total number of robberies, including those on shops, homes and businesses, decreased from its peak of 2,809 in 2009 to 1,239 in 2015.

Although the number of robberies decreased significantly over the past years, there has been a shift, according to Detailhandel Nederland. There was an increase in the number of ramraids - criminals crashing a car through a shop, home or businesses window and grabbing what they can - and ATM bombings. "Where store robberies decline, the number of ramraids and ATM bombings is increasing. These too are crimes that have major impact on shops and retailers", Bert van Steeg of Detailhandel Nederland said to NOS.