Burglaries in rural holiday properties in France soared by nearly 18% in a year.
Official figures show an increase in burglary and theft during 2013, with second homes faring worst. An increase in police protection had failed to halt the rise.
French police and gendarmerie had launched Operation Holiday Tranquility to help. Owners are encouraged to register their property to ensure police or gendarmes check regularly on empty or holiday properties during the summer.
Nevertheless, thefts from rural houses were up by 17.7% over 2012 and in urban areas by 10% more.
The rapid rise follows what was already alarming increases in 2011 and 2012.
Holiday homes were burgled more than inhabited properties in the countryside.
Although an estimated 200,000 Britons own second homes in France, ownership of the burgled properties also included other foreign nationals as well as French.
The country’s interior minister blamed the increase on “groups from Eastern Europe”
He noted that a “national plan” to fight burglary launched last September was started to bear fruit, as break-ins had started decreasing in the past three months. While he remained silent about countryside thefts, he said the government had scored victories in high-crime areas, such as certain districts of Marseille.
There has also been a wave of reports about rising crime in the French countryside targeting farms equipment and livestock.
Violent crime, however, appeared to have decreased, according to the country’s annual national crime report.
