There was a 14% drop in the number of fires and break-ins reported to insurance companies last year, the insurers’ association said on Thursday.

In 2014, there were some 35,000 break-ins and 100,000 fires. Most reports came from Noord-Brabant and the number of break-ins fell across the country, apart from in Limburg.

‘We think it is primarily criminal gangs who are doing the break-ins,’ the association said. ‘Criminality is shifting southwards, with a rise in marijuana growing and ecstasy labs in Brabant and Limburg. This attracts other criminals, including burglars.’

The figures also show people in rural areas are more likely to be victims of a fire than city dwellers.