Experts: Gold prices drive rise in home burglaries, highest level in about three years
The Netherlands is seeing a renewed rise in home burglaries after years of decline, with insurers, researchers, and security experts pointing to higher gold prices, changing criminal behavior, and a resurgence of distraction scams. The increase is reflected in police-linked data and insurer figures showing more break-ins and attempted burglaries in recent months, De Telegraaf reports.
Data from insurer Interpolis, obtained by De Telegraaf, shows that in five of the past six months, more home burglaries were recorded than in the same months a year earlier. In March, burglaries and attempted break-ins were more than 20 percent higher than the previous year.
A separate analysis by comparison site Independer, based on police figures obtained through a public records request, found more than 20,600 home burglaries were registered last year. In the first months of this year, attempted break-ins increased again.
Nearly four in five burglary attempts succeeded nationwide last year, according to the same dataset. In Groningen and Friesland, the success rate was even higher.
Former burglar and security expert Evert Jansen, who trains police and municipal agencies, said criminals are shifting toward valuables that are easier to resell. “A laptop today can be bought secondhand for a few dozen euros. But gold can be sold immediately. There is no hassle with it,” Jansen told De Telegraaf.
He said burglars increasingly profile victims based on visible wealth. “They look at who is wearing gold chains or expensive jewelry. Then they know there is likely more at home. After that, they only need to find out where someone lives.”
Jansen also warned that so-called “babbeltruc” distraction scams are making a comeback, often targeting elderly residents. In these schemes, criminals pose as utility workers or maintenance staff.
In one case described, two men told an elderly woman that her jewelry was interfering with their equipment and that she needed to remove it. She then offered them coffee. When she returned from the kitchen, they were gone with her jewelry.
Criminal groups are also changing, Jansen said, noting an increase in younger offenders. “The old stereotype of a drug addict breaking in for quick cash still exists, but today you also see many boys aged 14 or 15 operating in groups,” he said.
These groups act quickly and in coordination, sometimes escalating to street robberies in which victims are forced to hand over jewelry or watches. “One distracts the victim, the other takes the items. Everything happens much faster than before,” Jansen said.
Authorities and experts also point to social media as a growing risk factor. “People post everything online: when they go on vacation, what they buy, where they are. In effect, they are telling you when their home is empty,” Jansen said.
The post-pandemic return to normal mobility has also reportedly contributed to the rise, after burglary numbers fell sharply during COVID-19 lockdowns when people stayed home more often.
Geographically, burglaries remain concentrated in wealthier municipalities, including Laren, Bloemendaal, and De Bilt, which are repeatedly identified as higher-risk areas.
Police guidance continues to emphasize visible occupancy, outdoor lighting, strong locks, and neighborhood awareness as key deterrents. Jansen stressed informal vigilance as well. “People see suspicious situations but often do nothing about them. Social control may be the best security that exists.”
