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Three accomplices confess: boat engine thieves in court!
Three defendants confess to theft of boat engines in Oberhavel. Trial before the regional court begins, details of the crime and police actions.
Three accomplices confess: boat engine thieves in court!
In an exciting trial at the regional court in Oranienburg, three young men are currently suspected of having stolen boat engines as part of an organized gang. The defendants, aged 19 to 25, admitted their involvement in the thefts in 2023 through their defense attorney. As the Maz online reported, the first theft occurred on February 26, 2023 in Hennigsdorf, where five boat engines, including a high-quality one with a GPS tracker, were stolen.
Police became aware of the gang when a boat owner installed a GPS tracker in his engine. This intelligent action led to the discovery of the stolen engines in a garage used by the defendants. The encounter with the authorities turned dramatic when a vehicle with Berlin license plates was seen leaving the men with the stolen goods. They were subsequently arrested and have been charged ever since.
The defendants in detail
19-year-old Andrij S. only fled Ukraine in the spring of 2024 and made a living as an unskilled worker in Germany. He regrets his actions and stated that he was only persuaded to take part in the thefts. The other two defendants, Anatolij Z. and Mykola B., aged 25 and 22, also confessed to taking part in the burglaries. Mykola B. in particular stated that he had rented the garages and the van, but he emphasized that he had not been involved in the sale of the loot.
The defendant's defense refused to divulge details about stolen property that had not been recovered or other possible crime scenes. The investigation is progressing and the trial will continue in the coming days.
A look at motor vehicle crime
While the incidents in Oranienburg are the focus of the media, the BKA website on the persistently high level of motor vehicle crime in Germany. Despite falling numbers in 2019 and 2020, there was another increase in 2021 almost to the level of 2019. The number of thefts is particularly high in the eastern federal states and the city states of Berlin and Hamburg.
The groups of perpetrators are often well organized and specialized. They overcome electronic security devices and sell stolen parts via Internet platforms or in traditional parts stores, which further fuels crime. There are many ways to prevent vehicle theft; on the internet portals www.polizei-beratung.de and www.k-einbruch.de There are helpful tips for vehicle owners to better protect themselves.
The incidents and trials surrounding boat engines show that motor vehicle crime is not only limited to cars, but also includes other commercial vehicles and equipment. A growing awareness of security is needed more than ever.