National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

The relative poverty in many Eastern European countries can be a breeding
ground for a black market in cheap, stolen goods. The handling of stolen
goods that is linked to many property crimes keeps an extensive supply-anddemand
market alive.
The aforementioned factors are also significant as regards the problems of
groups of offenders travelling round in other Western European countries.
The policy in surrounding countries is therefore important, especially as it
may cause a ‘water bed effect’: the introduction of a strict policy in one
country leads to a shift of crime to countries where the policy is less strict.
• Technological security methods
In the coming years the developments in the field of nanotechnology will
produce practical prevention and security applications. Retail businesses and
car manufacturers in particular stand to benefit.
4.2 Domestic and industrial burglaries
4.2.1 Introduction and scope
This section concerns (series of) domestic and industrial burglaries 54 committed
by criminal organisations that are active at the supraregional level in the
Netherlands. The results of the organised supraregional property crime
subproject will be used.
Local and opportunist or impulsive groups of offenders fall outside of the scope
of the research. Domestic burglaries where the aim is to get hold of car keys and
papers in order to steal the car are included under car theft and fall outside of
the scope of this section.
4.2.2 General context
Burglaries are a common form of crime. They are committed in many
different ways. Compared to many other forms of (property) crime, domestic
and industrial burglaries are relatively easy offences to commit. They generally
require little preparation; there are plenty of opportunities; they can be
performed quickly and with simple tools; and the loot usually consists
of goods that are so common that they are guaranteed to sell.
54
Although there are differences between these two types of offences, they are addressed
together in this section because of their many similarities.
144 National Threat Assessment 2008 – Organised crime