Which items are most often stolen in home burglaries in Belgium?

Fewer home burglaries recorded in 2025

In 2025, Belgian police services recorded 35,438 home burglaries, compared with 38,349 in 2024. This represents a decrease of 7.6%.

These figures only cover incidents known to the police. Not every burglary or attempted burglary is reported. 

Jewellery and watches are stolen most often

Jewellery or watches were reported stolen in 9,305 recorded home burglaries in 2025. Cash ranked second, with 6,718 recorded incidents.

The figures represent the number of home burglaries in which a particular category was recorded as stolen, rather than the number of individual items. Several categories may therefore occur within a single incident.

Jewellery and watches also ranked first in 2024, followed by cash. These items generally combine a relatively high value with a limited volume, making them easy to carry away. 

Choosing the right safe based on value and risk

For jewellery, watches and cash, the required level of protection is primarily determined by the total value and the associated risk, rather than by volume alone. When the contents are to be insured, the minimum resistance grade required by the insurer should be the starting point.

For private use, the frequency of access, the intended location and any requirement for fire protection must also be considered. Our page on choosing a home safe explains the differences between compact safes for everyday valuables, concealed built-in safes and fire-resistant safes for the home. A broader overview is available in our guide on how to choose the right safe or vault. 

For lower-risk applications, EN 14450 provides the security levels S1 and S2. Burglary-resistant safes certified according to EN 1143-1 are classified from Grade 0 to Grade XIII. The higher the grade, the greater the resistance demonstrated during independent testing. The applicable standard and resistance grade are stated on the official certification plate inside the door.

More information is available on our page about testing, certification and burglary-resistance grades according to EN 1143-1 and EN 14450. 

Each resistance grade is associated with an indicative insurable value for cash or valuables. These amounts may not be added together and do not constitute an automatic guarantee of insurance cover. The final cover may also depend on the location of the building, the nature of the property and any additional security measures.

Once the required grade has been established, a model can be selected according to its dimensions, internal layout, possible fire protection, lock type and installation location. Our guide to the 10 best safes in Belgium in 2026 presents examples for different levels of risk and use. 

Proper installation and anchoring

The certified resistance of a safe must be combined with correct installation. Freestanding safes certified according to EN 1143-1 and weighing less than 1,000 kg must be securely anchored.

Atelier Boonen generally uses chemical anchoring, whereby a high-tensile threaded rod is bonded into a concrete floor or wall using a special two-component mortar. 

The installation location should therefore be assessed when selecting the model. Relevant factors include the available space, access route, weight, door opening, supporting surface and the possible presence of pipes or underfloor heating. Where direct anchoring is not possible, a suitable custom support or base structure can be provided.

Atelier Boonen carries out the delivery, installation and anchoring of safes and vaults entirely in-house, using specialised equipment and discreet transport. An overview of the different types and applications is available on our page about buying a safe or vault in Belgium. 

Source: Belgian Federal Police, Police Crime Statistics 2025 – Belgium, closing date: 24 April 2026. The figures for stolen property indicate the number of recorded incidents in which a particular category occurred. Several categories may be recorded for a single incident.