COVID-19 and Its Impact on Crime Patterns in Spain
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in Spain, including a shift in crime patterns, particularly along the Spanish coast. This is according to a report titled ‘Burglaries in insured homes. Data 2019-2020’, compiled by Estamos Seguros, an initiative by UNESPA, the Spanish Association of Insurance and Reinsurance Institutions. The report analyses burglaries in insured homes in Spain from 1st August 2019 to 31st July 2020. The findings reveal that burglars have shifted their focus to the beach due to the measures implemented by authorities in response to the health crisis. This has led to an increase in burglaries in Spanish coastal homes.
2020 Burglary Trends in Spain
The report by Estamos Seguros indicates that the spring lockdown in 2020 and travel restrictions aimed at containing the pandemic have forced criminals to target second homes, typically located on the Spanish coast. During this period, burglars largely ignored properties in city centres, aware that these were likely to be occupied. The study analysed data from 27 insurance companies that protect 11.8 million homes in Spain. The findings are based on an analysis of 78,000 burglaries that occurred between the summer of 2019 and 2020.
Geographical Distribution of Burglaries in Spain
The change in burglars’ behaviour is evident in the geographical distribution of burglaries. Most provinces with a higher burglary rate than the national average are located on the coast, specifically the Mediterranean coast. This includes Gerona, Tarragona, Barcelona, and Murcia. Inland territories that feature high on the list are those close to Madrid, where second homes are also common. Notably, there has been a decrease in incidents in the Community of Madrid, which previously had a high rate of residential burglaries.
Average Compensation for Burglaries in Spain
The Estamos Seguros study also reveals that the cost of thefts may have increased in 2020, suggesting that burglars have been stealing more or higher value goods. The average compensation paid by an insurer in Spain as a result of theft was 1,333 euros in the 12 months analysed. The most serious incidents occurred in the provinces of Barcelona, Gerona, Pontevedra, Lérida and Navarra, with compensation ranging between 1,600 and 1,700 euros.
Other Incidents During the Pandemic
While home burglaries in main residences have decreased due to travel restrictions, the continued presence of people in their homes during lockdown has led to an increase in home insurance claims, including leaks and electrical problems. In the first half of 2020, insurers resolved 3.6 million issues in homes in Spain, a 5.59% increase from the first six months of the previous year. It’s also worth noting that the trend of thefts on the coast is mirrored in the increase in squatting in second homes during this period, a practice that worsened in 2020 due to the coronavirus, according to police sources.
