Criminals sometimes use simple methods to spy on houses – like ringing on the front door. T-online asked experts what is behind it and how residents should behave.
In the middle of the night the doorbell rings. They scare up and go drunk towards the door. But when you look out of the door spy or the window, nobody can be seen. Was it a bell prank? Or may there be burglars behind that check whether the house residents are at home?
When asked by T-Online.de, the press office of the federal states and the federal government’s police prevention explains that the “modus operandi cannot be ruled out”. However, this procedure is “not a focus”, said the experts. “The majority of the burglaries takes place at the time or in the early evening, especially in the dark season.”
So it can happen that criminals carry out a bell test before the break-in to check whether someone is at home or not. Both for the day and night. However, the test is not common. Criminals are much more common for several days and in this way learn whether the residents are at home and what entry opportunities there are.
Experts advise to secure their own four walls sufficiently (there are tips here). Chief Criminal Investigation Commissioner (KHK) Jens Fritsch from the police Burglary Center also explains in an interview with t-online.de: “Even in a suspicion, the police should be contacted under 110. In the event of a reasonable alarm, there are no operational costs for the neighbors.”
However, it also applies that the police should not be called in every case, but only in the event of suspicion. A ringing on the front door both for the day and night time can only be a bell.
