17 percent of Danes are affected by burglaries to an extent that it impacts their quality of life, according to a new report. Despite the sharp decrease in the number of burglaries in Denmark, one in six Danes are negatively affected by burglaries to a degree that damages their quality of life. This is revealed in a new report conducted by Roskilde University for the local safety initiative Bo Safe and the Danish Crime Prevention Council (Det Kriminalpræventive Råd). Approximately 17 percent of Danes are affected inappropriately by burglaries. This can manifest in either feeling so unsafe that they possess weapons and pepper spray, or conversely, not protecting themselves against burglaries at all, even though they perceive a high risk. This is a misguided way to address insecurity, says Ingrid Soldal Eriksen, an analyst at the Danish Crime Prevention Council. “It has a negative effect on one’s sense of security and quality of life if you arm yourself or engage in avoidance behavior. It is an inappropriate way to prevent burglaries,” she says.
The number of burglaries in Denmark has decreased from 29,015 to 14,844 over the past five years. However, the sense of insecurity has not decreased proportionally among Danes. “There is not a direct correlation between the number of burglaries and the fear of them. For example, hearing about burglaries on social media can make one feel insecure, and in that way, insecurity is contagious,” says Ingrid Soldal Eriksen. “Insecurity is influenced by causes other than just being a victim of burglaries. We need to continue working to support people in not engaging in behaviors that harm their quality of life.”
Although one in six Danes, according to the report, feel insecure in a more detrimental way, the majority of the population feel safe and are not negatively affected by burglaries. Eight out of ten Danes feel safe in a constructive manner. They secure their homes and also use methods such as neighborhood watch, but these precautions do not diminish their sense of safety. These measures benefit their quality of life, and the Danish Crime Prevention Council’s message is clear. “We need to stop the spread of insecurity. We can see that hearing about burglaries on social media has a negative effect on insecurity. And we must avoid arming ourselves, as it harms both our sense of security and quality of life,” says Ingrid Soldal Eriksen.