Recent figures published by the Dutch police reveal that, in the first four months of 2022, the Netherlands saw a significant increase in the number of car break-ins.
Between the beginning of January and the end of April, police recorded almost 14.000 reports of car break-ins - an increase of 41 percent compared to the same period in 2021, De Telegraaf reports.
These incidents involved the theft of various valuable items such as sunglasses or tech devices, but officers also emphasise that auto parts are popular amongst burglars as they can be sold on the black market. This year in Rotterdam, for example, a number of Peugeot bonnets have been stolen.
The National Vehicle Crime Information Centre (LIV) and Dutch police note that this sudden increase in 2022 can likely be attributed to the fact that there are no longer restrictions imposed by the Dutch government as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Not only were criminals hindered by the national curfew, but as fewer people were driving last winter because of lockdown restrictions, there were also fewer traffic accidents, which meant less demand for stolen car parts.