Burglaries in homes in Alcobendas have decreased by 58.1% in the first quarter of 2026, but the Local Police warns that summer is the highest risk period and has launched its annual prevention campaign.
The Local Police of Alcobendas has launched its annual home burglary prevention campaign coinciding with the imminent arrival of the August holidays. It does so backed by an encouraging statistic: burglaries in homes in the municipality have been reduced to less than half during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. According to the crime report from the Ministry of the Interior, between January and March of this year, there were 13 burglaries in houses, compared to 31 in the same quarter of 2025, representing a decrease of 58.1%.
This drop positions Alcobendas as one of the municipalities in the Community of Madrid with the greatest proportional reduction in this type of crime. The overall crime trend is also positive: the total number of criminal offences has decreased by 5.6%, from 1,417 to 1,337 cases. Violent and intimidating burglaries fell by 31.3%; thefts decreased by 13.9%; general burglaries dropped by 14%; and vehicle thefts fell by 9.6%. Cybercrime has also decreased by 6.6% overall, with a 29.5% drop in other cyber offences, although computer scams only decreased by 3.6%.
Despite these positive figures, the Local Police warns that summer is traditionally the time of year when burglaries in homes spike across Spain, and that prevention remains key to keeping the downward trend. Therefore, officers have launched a new edition of their information campaign aimed at residents who will be away from their homes during the holidays.
Recommendations to Avoid Signs of Absence
The Local Police's advice focuses on not giving clues to thieves. Officers remind that criminals do not improvise, but rather observe homes before acting, looking for signs that confirm they are empty. Therefore, they recommend securing doors and windows well, especially those facing inner courtyards or terraces, which are often the most vulnerable entry points in detached houses and single-family homes, such as those that predominate in La Moraleja and El Soto.
A common mistake is to lower the blinds completely, which clearly indicates that no one is home. The Local Police suggests leaving them slightly open to give the appearance of activity. They also warn against leaving valuables visible from the outside or stored on uncovered terraces, where they can be spotted from the street or from neighbouring properties.
Another key recommendation is to leave a copy of the keys with a trusted family member or neighbour, so they can periodically collect the mail from the mailbox and prevent it from piling up, another unmistakable sign of absence. Additionally, this person will be able to quickly locate the owners in case of any unforeseen events. The Local Police also encourages activating mutual surveillance among neighbours and calling 092 in the presence of any suspicious person or vehicle loitering around the neighbourhood.
Absence Registration: A Free and Practical Service
One of the most useful resources of the campaign is the voluntary data registration service for travellers, available for several years but little known among residents. It consists of notifying the Local Police of the period of absence from the home and an emergency contact number, so that the force can alert the owner if any incident is detected at the property during the holidays.
The registration can be done in three ways: by phone, calling 092 or 900 210 712; by email, at the address policialocal@alcobendas.org; or in person at any of the three Citizen Attention Units of the Security Area, located on Libertad Street, Valdelaparra Avenue, and Brussels Avenue. The service is completely free and does not generate any commitment beyond providing an operational contact detail.
The Local Police also warns about a very common mistake: posting on social media the dates of travel, photos from the airport, or holiday destinations before returning home. Public or semi-public profiles on platforms like Instagram or Facebook can be accessed by criminals, who thus obtain precise information about when a home is empty. They recommend waiting until you are back to share photos from the trip.
With these measures, the Local Police of Alcobendas hopes that residents enjoy a peaceful holiday and that the downward trend in burglaries continues throughout the summer.
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