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Burglary is one of the most commonly reported crimes investigated by police. Because its nature varies it is difficult to set down specific guidelines for its investigation. Many of the techniques and procedures pertinent to the burglary investigation.  The first officer to arrive at the burglary scene must be concerned with the suspect’s location. In cases in which the burglary is in progress and the officer was called, the first consideration must be to apprehend the suspect. Once the suspect has been located, the location must be secured. Witnesses should be separated for interviewing at a later time.

The officer conducting the crime scene investigation of a burglary should understand that most experienced burglars attempt to leave only a minimum amount of evidence at the location and it is impossible for the suspect not to change the crime scene in some small way by leaving traces behind or by picking up small items of evidence when leaving the scene. Therefore, it is the police officer who collects evidence left behind by the suspect, e.g., fingerprints, shoe prints, tool marks, etc., and evidence from the suspect that may have been removed from the scene, e.g., glass fragments, paint chips, wooden splinters, etc. The investigator should also be aware of the modus operandi, or M.O., of the burglar. Frequently, a suspect may be responsible for a large number of burglaries in an area. Thus, in some instances it may be useful to examine tool marks left at different crime scenes in order to determine whether the same tool was used.

Window entry is usually accomplished by breaking a hole through a pane and removing the broken glass to reach the latch. In order to minimize the noise from falling glass, the burglar may press a rag against the window; sometimes adhesive tape may be used.

Where a screen covers a window, a careful examination of the edges for any cuts may show fibers from the sleeve where the suspect’s arm was inserted to open or break the window. Glass is one type of evidence often found on the suspect when a window was broken, it is almost unavoidable that some pieces of the flying glass will adhere to the suspect’s clothing. The investigator should collect specimens of the broken window for possible comparison with glass found on the burglar’s clothes and also search for any fingerprints present on the windowpane, as well as prints present in the window putty.

A burglar usually opens a door by using a pry bar to attack the door and jamb around the lock until the bolt can be pushed back or is actually freed from the striker plate. A door jamb is sometimes so weak that it may be spread apart far enough to free the bolt. This can be done by mere pressure from the body or by inserting a jack horizontally across the doorframe. The lock might also be made accessible through a hole that is drilled, sawed, or broken in a door panel. Far too many doors are fitted with glass that is simply broken so that the lock may be reached. Other weak points are mail slots, the frame of which may be removed, and transoms that may have been left open. A common method of entry is to push back spring-loaded bolts by means of a knife. The knife is inserted between the door and the jamb and the bolt is gradually worked back. The bolt is kept from springing back by outward pressure on the door. This method is easily detected by the series of scratches that run lengthwise along the bolt. Burglary by this method is prevented by safety catches and deadbolt locks. Snap-lock bolts can also be opened by inserting a knife, spatula, or credit card pressed against the beveled face of the bolt and pushing it back. The instrument can be inserted between the door and the jamb or behind the molding on the jamb.

The investigator should attempt to form a picture of the whole crime scene in order to estimate whether or not the burglar was familiar with the premises, moreover, he or she should try to make a determination about the type of person being sought. Was the burglary the work of a professional burglar? Was the crime simply a case of vandalism involving juveniles? Was anything unusual left at the scene such  as feces, which might point to a suspect with a history of sex-related crimes?

Safes may be classified into two basic types: fire-resistant and burglar-resistant.  Safes can be opened by a number of methods such as:

-     manipulation,

-     punching,

-     peeling, prying,

-     ripping,

-     chopping,

-     drilling,

-     burning,

-     by means of explosives.

                               Burglary tools

Manipulation is essentially a lost art that involves opening a safe by means of listening to and feeling the combination lock mechanism. The punching method involves knocking off the dial and punching the dial spindle into the safe. Peeling involves prying or peeling the faceplate from the safe door in such a way as to expose the locking mechanism. Entry by ripping or chopping is achieved by tearing a hole through a part of the safe other than the door such as the top, side, or bottom. Drilling is usually effective but it is a time-consuming method and therefore only rarely used in safe burglaries. Burning is another method used by safe burglars using the so-called “burning bar.” The bar, a metal pipe, is packed with a mixture of powdered aluminum and iron oxide. The mixture is known as thermite and when ignited gives off a very intense heat that can be directed to the safe. Burning is usually started around the dial hole.

Any type of burglary is a serious criminal offence. To protect Your home, the Police advice to ask someone to have a look at your premises from time to time, just to be on the safe side, better safe than sorry. Leave lights on, make sure your home looks inhabitable. One does not leave home for more than an hour or so. It is important. The importance of being safe is a priority.

The Police Department; 

https://www.politie.nl/mijnbuurt/politiebureaus/05/burgwallen.html and a Chief Inspector – Mr. Erik Akerboom                                 ©

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