Safety first
Brussels, like other big cities around the world, suffers from its fair share of crime. While burglars, pickpockets and car thieves can’t always be outwitted, you can significantly increase your chances of preventing an attack by following a few simple rules. Vigilance is key, and though some of the tips that follow may seem obvious, it is surprising, say crime prevention experts, how many residents fail to follow them.
Protect your house
Protect your home from possible intruders by investing in proper locks. According to Brussels commune’s crime prevention office, burglars spend an average of three minutes trying to open doors. A sturdy lock will minimise the risk and deter most trespassers. If you have a garden or terrace, make sure all access points are locked. You’d be surprised how many people leave the back door open.
“Just because you’ve always done so, doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do it forever,” says Ixelles commune crime prevention advisor Guillaume Counson. “Times are changing and people need to make some changes too. The number of burglaries committed via an open garden door or window proves there is still a lot to be done.”
If you’d like to secure your house, but don’t really know where to start, you can always get advice from the crime prevention services at your commune’s town hall. A trained security expert will come to your home, analyse the weak and strong points and work out a security plan (from extra locks and lights to a complete alarm system). You don’t have to pay for this service, and taxpayers can get refunds of up to 25 percent on any security investments made.
But even before you spend money to protect your home, a few changes in your behaviour will go a long way.
* When buying new expensive items such as a computer, a games console or a state-of-the art domestic appliance, turn the cardboard packaging inside out when putting it on the street for the rubbish collectors. That way your pricey new goods won’t be noticed by people with bad intentions.
* If you’re away on holiday or on a business trip, ask a neighbour or family member to collect your post. A full post box is a clear sign that the house is empty. Also, avoid mentioning you’ll be away for a while on your own website or social media. If you’d like the police to keep an eye on your home while you’re gone, you can register via www.police-on-web.be.
Protect your car
Ever walked passed a pavement covered in broken glass and thought ‘glad that wasn’t my car’? Brussels is the worst city in Belgium when it comes to car thefts and thefts from cars. Even though the number of reported cases went down in 2011, it could decrease even further in 2012 if we all set our minds to it. Here are a few tips:
* As soon as you get in your car, lock the doors and put your bags and wallet out of sight.
* If you can, park your car in a well-lit spot or in a CCTV camera-protected car park.
* Never leave anything of great value in the car, even if it’s only for a couple of minutes. If for some reason you have to, make sure you conceal the items before getting out of the car.
* Make sure you check the doors, windows and boot are locked when leaving your car.
* Store all your paperwork in a file in your glovebox, and take the file with you when you leave the car. Should the worst happen, you’ll always have your documents with you.
Protect yourself
Pickpockets love busy places and tend to be very active in areas where people are shopping, strolling around, listening to a concert, having a drink or waiting for a bus. Again, a few easy tricks will give petty thieves a hard time.
* Keep your wallet and purse closed at all times. Carry your purse tightly against you or store your wallet in the inside pocket of your jacket or front pocket of your trousers.
* Leave all the official documents you don’t need at home.
* Let nobody steal your attention when withdrawing money from a cash dispenser. Choose small notes (if you have the option), that way you won’t have to flash a big note for every purchase.
* Have your bus, tram or metro ticket ready before getting on public transport. Nobody needs to know where you store your wallet.
* Be alert if somebody tries to divert your attention. Common methods employed by pickpockets to distract potential targets are asking you to join in a game of football in a shopping street, bumping into you in a bar and spilling a drink on your clothes, or hugging you enthusiastically in a public place even though they are a complete stranger to you.
* Don’t hesitate to inform a city guard (dressed in purple in most communes) or a police officer, if you notice someone acting suspiciously.
If you feel unsafe and would like to develop some self-defence skills, why not think about signing up to one of the many courses taught in and around Brussels? Katal, for instance, is a self-defence course originally designed for the military and the police, but which is now also available for civilians. You’ll find Katal instructors all over Brussels. See www.katal-defense.com for more info.
Bravvo
The non-profit organisation responsible for making people feel safe in the commune of Brussels is Bruxelles Avance Brussel Vooruit!, or Bravvo. In the course of 2012, Bravvo will set up a multilingual campaign, aimed at expats and tourists. The campaign will be launched in Ixelles, as this large commune is home to many expatriates and shares its police zone with the commune of Brussels. With safety tips in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, distributed via flyers and coasters, Bravvo wants to increase the feeling of safety among this target group. Look out for their leaflets in the European institutions as well.
