Crime wave: Eberswalde fights against theft explosion!

Crime wave: Eberswalde fights against theft explosion!

Several incidents of theft and vandalism have been reported in the Brandenburg town of Eberswalde, keeping the police on their toes. On August 27, 2025, an attempted theft was recorded on a Suzuki Swift that was parked on Sommerfelder Straße. Unknown perpetrators tried to start the vehicle by short-circuiting it, which caused material damage amounting to several hundred euros. The criminal police have started the investigation and are looking for information from the public.

Another crime occurred on the night when Bernau b. Tools were stolen from a tractor on Wandlitzer Chaussee in Berlin. The stolen items included a helmet with a radio and a hammer drill, which brings the damage to around 1,500 euros. Here too, the investigators are working to find the perpetrators.

The hunt for the shoplifter

The police in Eberswalde are also looking for a shoplifter who stole perfume worth around 400 euros from a drugstore on the market. Passers-by are being called upon to help identify the perpetrator after surveillance photos were taken. The case not only attracts the attention of the local population, but also reflects a larger problem: shoplifting causes billions in retail losses every year.

Loud Deutschlandfunk The industry will invest an estimated 1.55 billion euros in theft prevention in 2023. The numbers regarding shoplifting have been rising rapidly since the corona pandemic appears to be over. In 2023 alone there were around 426,000 reports, the highest number since 2006. A big problem child are the professional gangs of thieves, which cause around 30 percent of the total damage, while opportunist thieves often act out of financial need or boredom.

Horrifying statistics

Retail is undoubtedly suffering from this development. Losses due to theft not only burden the companies themselves, but also the tax authorities and customers. In 2023, goods worth 13 million euros were stolen every day, with many thefts occurring at self-service checkouts, which have 20 to 30 percent higher loss rates. There are an estimated 100,000 undetected shoplifters every day with an average value of goods of 117 euros.

The law provides for strict penalties for shoplifting: anyone caught stealing will face fines or prison sentences of up to five years, depending on the severity of the case. Children and young people, on the other hand, are usually treated according to juvenile criminal law, which can include educational measures instead of just imposing punishments. Nevertheless, pressure remains high on retailers to prevent precious candles from being eroded by derivatives.

Last night once again brought a lot of work for the police in Barnim. It remains to be hoped that the ongoing investigations in Eberswalde and Bernau b. The perpetrators can soon be caught in Berlin and the security situation in the region is improving. Until then, citizens are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.