Search Q&A
Burglars danger in Uccle and Woluwe (near Bruxelles)
Dear folks,
we are a European couple with a child and we we will be soon moving our family to Bruxelles to stay there for a couple of years. We are currently looking for properties (a house) for rent in the south (Uccle) and south-east (Woluwe) areas. Our concern is regarding how safe are those areas in respect to burglars, although we understand they are populated by many expats with children etc.. and quite wealthy local residents . Most houses don't seem to have any heavy anti-burglar protection installment / doors don't feel very secure etc... despite the town (according to several posts one can find on the web) doesn't seem to be much safe, in general. As a matter of fact, anyone a bit skilled could enter most of the properties without much effort... Could anyone provide us some more insight / share some experience with us ? Thank you vm in advance
When you move in and get your ID etc sorted you will get a visit from a local police person to check you are who you say you are living in the property. Ask them when they come to check around the house/appartment and make some security suggestions - this a free service they offer. This should give you better peace of mind - and welcome to the city!
I'd be basing housing on work and school and not the theoretical possiblity of burglary.
a reinforced door starts at around 1800/1900 eur.
or there are cheaper ways to make your non-reinforced door a bit more secure for few hundreds euro (but it won't stop a good burglar) .
if you really feel unsafe why not offering the landlord to divide the cost of a reinforced door? you'll pay less insurance and feel safer.
otherwise you need to increase your budget and go for more expensive properties with such features.
Is there any country in Europe that can truly clam to be burglar proof?
Irrespective of what type of security is in any house anywhere, if someone wants to break in they will.
I've lived in various places in Brussels: WSP, Wezembeek and WSL, also in Kraainem and I've always felt safe.
As Meha says, if someone wants to break in, they will.
A reinforced door encourages a burglar to enter through a window and all the precautions in the world only do one thing - they buy time. A professional burglar knows how much time he has between setting off a burglar alarm and anyone arriving to check.
Far more important than expensive deterrents is plain common sense - don't leave windows and doors open; don't leave expensive things on display to anyone who looks through the window; do talk to your neighbours and, most important, do be adequately insured.
I've been here 20 years, half in apartments and half in a house and I've never felt vulnerable to burglary.
