You go on holiday for rest and relaxation, but how do you ensure that all your belongings are still there when you return home? During the holiday period, burglars traditionally go on a rampage, because nothing is as easy as breaking into someone who is not at home. That’s why we leave a light on en masse when we leave, because then burglars will think we are there. But does that work?
How can you really ensure that your home remains burglary-free during your holiday? Evert Jansen is an ex-burglar and gives tips and tricks. He lives in Groningen and was born and raised in Bovensmilde. Jansen has been addicted to drugs for 18 years. To pay for this addiction, he became a burglar. He went in and out of prison. He mainly committed the burglaries around Bovensmilde and Assen.
It all started when the ex-burglar was about 15 years old. His friends came up with the idea of robbing a taxi. Deep in his heart, Jansen didn’t want that, he says. But he thought he had to say yes, to be tough. Two weeks later, Jansen was arrested and spent six months in prison. Juvenile Detention.
When Jansen was back home afterwards, he went to a party in Assen. There he was offered heroin. He and his friends took it and started smoking it. At the time, they didn’t know how addictive it was, says Jansen. “I had no idea.” It quickly went from one pack to two packs, a few grams per week. That became increasingly difficult to afford, so he went down the criminal path to pay for it.
He always broke in alone. “I learned from the robbery, with friends. Then everyone pointed at each other.” Jansen wanted to do it independently. He stole money, equipment, passports and jewelry. He sold passports to healers. Later he also started dealing in coke and heroin. This period became so exciting and dangerous that he decided to change course.
Join ex-burglar Evert Jansen (text continues below video):