ABUS Safety Study 2022 This is what Germans are afraid of

Despite fear of break-ins: Almost half of Germans do not use security systems

• Third edition of the Germany-wide security survey by ABUS and YouGov
• Sense of insecurity greater in urban areas than in rural areas
• Half of the respondents already victims of a crime 

Wetter/Ruhr, September 2022- A safe neighborhood, more likely to be in the countryside than in the city, more likely to be in western Germany than in eastern Germany, well lit and secured: This is how the majority of Germans feel safest from crime. The good news is that, overall, most people in Germany (60 percent) also feel safe from crime. However, a good third feel insecure about becoming the victim of a crime. Violence, theft, burglary, fraud: Attacks like these have unfortunately already happened to one in two (50 percent) in Germany. These are the key findings of the major security survey conducted by the market research institute YouGov for the third time since 2020 on behalf of the security expert ABUS. With this representative study, the basic feeling of security of the Germans was once again determined. The sample comprised 2,114 respondents in the period from July 19 to 25, 2022.

Sense of security in urban and rural areas, west and east                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As in previous years, regional differences in perceptions of safety remain in 2022. For example, people who live in urban, metropolitan areas most often feel unsafe (39 percent). Their neighbors in the east of the country have a greater sense of insecurity than respondents in western Germany.

Fear of burglary and how to protect yourself from it
After violence and bodily harm, it is still the case that fear of burglary is at the forefront of the minds of a significant proportion of respondents. For 26 percent of Germans, this violent intrusion into the integrity of the home is a serious threat. When you think about what worries you most about a break-in, for 48 percent of those surveyed, it's not the loss of material things, but the psychological damage that burglars can cause. Now, you might assume that houses, condominiums and rental properties would be quite predominantly protected against break-in attempts. But this is not the case. Just under half of Germans do not use any security systems in their homes. In other words, neither special door locks nor surveillance cameras, alarm systems or smart home systems.But a rethink is taking place: For example, 39 percent of respondents would trust door security systems in particular, followed by alarm systems (37 percent) and window security systems (30 percent). Consequently, a quarter of respondents plan to invest in security systems in the next 12 months. The preferences for security solutions are almost equally divided between door and window locks, surveillance cameras, alarm systems and smart home systems. Most people are not yet aware that the state contributes to the costs of burglary protection measures. When asked about subsidies, only 2 percent of respondents said they had already taken advantage of these financial aids. More than two-thirds were unaware of government funding in connection with barrier-free or age-appropriate remodeling.

About ABUS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            As a provider of security technology, ABUS has been offering market-driven solutions for added security since it was founded in 1924. Around 4,000 employees work for the globally oriented and owner-managed family company. The ABUS product portfolio ranges from mechanical and electronic security technology for private and commercial users to security solutions for two-wheelers.

About YouGov                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              YouGov is an international data and analytics group. The data is based on a highly participative panel consisting of 11 million people worldwide. From this continuous stream of data, combined with broad research expertise and industry experience, a systematic research and marketing platform has been developed. With 41 locations in 25 countries and panel members in 44 countries, YouGov has one of the 10 largest market research networks in the world.