Are you sure? I think it was a common theme in Poland that the burglars would stake out an area in summer, looking for people leaving for holidays, and break in when they know it's likely to be empty for a couple days.

So they're not targeting anyone in particular at first, but it's still not really a crime of convenience the way a mugging or bike theft might be.

This is also basically the plot to Home Alone

I meant that they'll choose the easiest houses, even if they spend effort casing them. I'm sure those Polish burglars were avoiding the riskiest homes.