Approach in Cottbus: Unknown, newspapers ignite in the mailbox!

Approach in Cottbus: Unknown, newspapers ignite in the mailbox!

Ewald-Müller-Straße, Cottbus, Deutschland - On the night of Wednesday, Ewald-Müller-Straße in Cottbus was shaken by an unusual fire. Unknown perpetrators had lit newspapers in a mailbox of an apartment building, which led too dense smoke in the hallway. Fortunately, all residents remained unharmed, the fire brigade quickly caused the flames and fresh air in the building. The property damage incurred amounts to several hundred euros, and the police have investigated arson. This incident is not the first of its kind, because Cottbus has repeatedly struggled with alleged arson in the past few months, such as Niederlausitz-aktuell.de reported.

The acute problems in the city is a series of fires that are often reported, especially at night. According to Cottbus Mayor Tobias Schick (SPD), measures to combat this fire series have already been announced. Additional positions in the enforcement service of the regulatory office and in civil protection are to be created. The camera surveillance in the city center is also reinforced and visual disabilities in parks are reduced. This initiative could possibly help to catch the perpetrator in the act and to improve the security situation in the city, as reported rbb24.de.

arson at a glance

Overall, Cottbus is confronted with a growing number of arson. In the past few months, cars and garbage containers have been set on fire. This year alone, 31 cases were reported to containers and 15 in cars. Investigations are often difficult because the police face the challenges of evidence: The high temperatures in fires make it difficult to secure DNA traces, and the proof that a fire has been deliberately laid is complicated. [Statista reports] (https://de.statista.com/statistik/studie/157437/umfrage/polizeilich-erfastte-faelle- von-brandstiftungsfiftung-seit-1995/) from a significant increase in arson in Germany between 2014 and 2024.

A look at security

Last week there was also another incident in Friedrich-Hebbel-Straße, where a woman got between two cars due to injury. An estimated damage of around 3,000 euros was caused. In the meantime, the police remain active as part of their search measures. It remains to be seen whether there are players from the same milieu in the most recent disorders such as e-bike theft or the motorcycle claw.

The city of Cottbus is required. It is to be hoped that the new measures by Mayor Schick will quickly take effect and improve the security of the citizens. After all, the clarification of the many fires is of the highest urgency for the residents and the city as a whole.