Crime in Greater Copenhagen

Safe, But Home Break-ins Are A Problem
Denmark has a reputation for being one of the safest countries in the world. While we think it mostly deserves this reputation, Copenhagen and the communities of the Greater Copenhagen area are not immune to crime, particularly home break-ins. In fact, with around 32,000 private home burglaries a year, Denmark ranks very highly in terms of number of break-ins compared to other nations (per capita) in northern Europe.

What You Should Know About: Home Break-ins
Anecdotally, burglaries are not an uncommon experience for expat families, particularly for those living in the more affluent towns and communities outside of Copenhagen proper. In fact, detached houses are four times more likely to experience a break-in than apartments.

On average in Denmark the reported break-ins per 1,000 households on a yearly basis is 5.1, however, in several of the municipalities north of Copenhagen, the average figure far surpasses that (source: Danmarks Statistic).

The highest number in 2017 was Gentofte with 12.9 break-ins per 1,000 households, followed by Rudersdal at 12.1, Hørsholm at 10.6, Helsingør at 10.5 and Allerød at 10.1.

Daytime & Holidays
Over half of all burglaries occur during the daytime, but the thieves also strike at other times. A little over a quarter of burglary in private homes takes place between. 18 and 24. During this time, many are busy shopping, visiting friends and family, or engaging in hobbies. Most thieves turn up on Friday, but Saturday is also a busy day. The statistics of burglary peaks during holidays and around Christmas and New Year.

According to DKR, the Danish Crime Prevention Council, the Christmas weeks of November and December have the highest level of reported break-ins ranging between 700 and 850 a week.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Burglar Says…
Denmark has spent a lot of time researching burglary prevention and its root causes. This included interviewing convicted burglars for insights into their, uh, profession. Typically, burglars look for homes with a certain set of characteristics:
 * The home is isolated or close to very noisy surroundings
 * There is dense green growth (high hedges) around the buildings
 * The next-door neighbors are not visible
 * It is easy to escape via small paths or other streets
 * The location is close to public transport and shopping streets
 * A window or door is slightly open
 * No one is home
 * Obvious signs of wealth
 * The locks on doors and windows are easy to break open

What You Should Know About: Home Security
Home break-ins are on the decline and most likely you will never have to experience it, but we recommend following these tips to decrease the likelihood even further:
 * Always change the locks when you move into a new home.
 * Always lock your doors and windows when you leave the house.
 * Outdoor lighting, often in the front yard, helps prevent burglary. Connect a motion sensor to the lighting. In this way it becomes harder for a burglar to hide, and the neighbor can easily see something happening.
 * Do not leave the outdoor lighting alone. It is very clear that the house is empty when it is completely dark inside. Put some lights and TV on a timer, particularly in the dark winter afternoons, so that your house always seems occupied.

Depressing Fact:
 * Some parents scatter flour on the floor inside the main doorway before they leave on vacations so that they can quickly tell if it has been disturbed when they return.
 * If it is within the budget, protect your home with a security system--and make sure the alarm rings OUTSIDE so that your neighbors are alerted.
 * Be sure to lock tools and garden tools inside so they cannot be used for burglary
 * A high hedge gives tranquility - also to break into. You can cut the hedge down.
 * If you are going away on holiday, ask the neighbors to keep an eye on your home and take in the garbage cans after they’ve been emptied by the Kommune.
 * Leave pairs of shoes outside your doorstep while you are away and leave some dishes in the sink and on the kitchen table, to make it look like you are still around.

“A rule of thumb says that only thefts with a value of more than 100,000 kroner get investigated by Copenhagen Police. In 2013, 95 percent of all reported thefts were merely noted down in a journal.”  -The Local, 2014

Thieves mostly go for computers, iPads, mobile phones, flat screens and laptops. Next for jewelry, cash, currency and branded clothing. You may want to consider how and where you secure the most valuable things.

If you suspect your home (or your neighbors) is being or has been burglarized, go to a secure place and dial 112 for the Police. Though their investigative resources are limited, Danish law enforcement, public safety, and security services are professional, highly trained, well equipped, and effective.

What You Should Know About: Bicycle Theft
Having your bicycle stolen is an annoying and frustrating experience. The Danish police estimate that more than 20 bicycles disappear every day due to bicycle thefts.

However, do not let the bicycle thefts scare you away from biking in Copenhagen. There are actually three easy steps to prevent your bicycle from getting in the hands of a bicycle thief.
 * 1) Park your bicycle next to streetlights on crowded streets. Thieves aren’t fond of attention, so be sure to lock your bike up in a high-traffic, well-lit area.
 * 2) Lock your bicycle to unmovable heavy objects. The wheel locks affixing to the back tires are more to keep drunk teenagers (and sometimes their parents) from ‘accidentally’ borrowing the wrong bike. The wheel lock does not deter a real bike thief who will just lift it up and put it into their van. Lock your bike to something unmovable and most bike thieves will pass by looking for easier targets.
 * 3) Buy a decent thick lock and a used bicycle. The hard truth is that no locks can prevent bicycle thieves from stealing your bicycle. The trick is to buy a lock that is not too cheap and not too expensive. Usually, a thick standard cable lock will do the trick or you could go for a stronger chain lock. Brand new and expensive bikes are the prime targets of bike thieves, so perhaps you might consider buying a less expensive used bike. If your bicycle is stolen, it should be covered under your home insurance policy.

What You Should Know About: Car Theft & Break-ins
While car theft is uncommon, having one’s car broken into is not. If you can, park in a well-lit area, always lock your doors and roll up your windows, and do not leave valuables in plain sight.

For more information on local crime and how to report one, visit the Danish Police website at https://politi.dk/.

Pickpockets and Petty Thefts
The biggest watch-outs in the City Centre are common to any big city: pickpocketing, petty thefts, bag snatching and ATM scams. Most property crimes happen along the Stroget, Nyhavn and in the Central Rail Station. Never put your cellphone or purse on your table while you eat, do not hang your laptop bag on the back of your chair in a café or restaurant and let go of that dream of winning three-card-monte against a street hustler.

Look Both Ways
In terms of violent crime, Copenhagen is a very safe city for men and women. Absent-minded drivers and speeding bikes pose the most danger to the average citizen.

What You Should Know About: Borderline Neighborhoods
Use common sense like you would in any big city and you shouldn’t worry about going anywhere in Copenhagen. There are neighborhoods that you should be more careful in if walking through after dark. Of course, these ‘edgy’ neighborhoods are also some of Copenhagen’s most vibrant with dozens of bars, clubs, food, and music venues frequented by the college kids, artists and immigrant communities that live in these more affordable areas.

Nørrebro

 * The Nørrebro neighborhood gets flagged for higher levels of street crime and gang-related activity—but this is far, far, far from South Central Los Angeles. You may not even notice the difference between Nørrebro and other neighborhoods if you pass through during the day. A light police presence generally keeps things quiet but still caution should be taken when walking in the area after dark. Take a cab if you don’t feel comfortable and don’t walk through poorly lit parks and public spaces. But don’t live in fear of Nørrebro by any means.

Freetown Christiana

 * Christiana is a unique area of Copenhagen most known for its hash and marijuana markets. Christiana operates ‘outside’ of the reach of Danish law, and their residents have adopted a set of rules for security reasons which they strongly advise visitors to abide. The drug trade is illegal in Denmark (if you are wondering) and some people get quite nervous there. You are asked not to take photos of anyone which is good advice. While it is a ‘lawless’ area, it is said to be policed by the Hells Angels. They are not there to protect you. While still generally fine to walk around in during the day, this is a place to take caution in at night, especially if you are female as there is a heavy drug culture there and the environment is sometimes unpredictable.

What You Show Know About: Cyber, Bank Card & ID Theft
You may have noticed that the Danes tend to favor doing everything digitally. You’ll be asked for your CPR number--which is your social security number--when doing things like purchasing a new phone or bicycle in addition to visiting the doctor. While the Danes seem quite relaxed about giving out their CPR number (some might say complacent), the dangers of ID theft are still very much real. And the worse part: Danish bureaucracy makes it particularly burdensome to cancel, correct and undo the damages and losses of ID theft. So embrace the digital culture, but be wary of its dark side and protect yourself.

Link: Danish Digital Banking sees 60% Increase in Credit Card Fraud and a 300% increase in Online Fraud. https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/digital-banking-in-denmark-coincides-with-60-rise-in-card-fraud#gs.Pvr9B1w8

What You Shoud Know About: Fake Realtors & Housing Scams
A lot of the Danish real estate mark takes place via Facebook groups and other social media. Rule of Thumb: If it’s too good to believe, it probably is. Beware of unbelievable deals, facebook realtors without many friends or suspect profile pictures, and especially offers that contain photos from homes and apartments that are clearly NOT Danish: large, enclosed showers, kitchens with large refridgerators, living rooms without one dominating and artistic hanging light fixture over the main table, etc.. Never pre-pay for anything and always meet realtors in a public place with a companion.

Report: Half of All Housing Ads in Denmark are Scams
https://uniavisen.dk/en/international-student-half-of-all-housing-ads-in-copenhagen-are-scams/

Renting Scams
http://www.rentingindenmark.com/2018/01/20/rental-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them/