Burglary in workshop: chainsaws worth 27,000 euros stolen!

Burglary in workshop: chainsaws worth 27,000 euros stolen!

It became clear once again that the dark ages of crime do not stop at the workshops in our region. According to a recent report by the People's voice The Börde police reported a break-in at a workshop in Badeleben. The incident occurred between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, with unknown perpetrators forcing their way into the premises.

Particularly bitter: The thieves stole several chainsaws and other valuable tools with a total loss of around 27,000 euros. The loot was apparently loaded onto a van, which was later discovered near the local cemetery. The police are now looking for witnesses who can provide information about the perpetrators and advise people to call 03904/478-0.

The increase in thefts in North Rhine-Westphalia

But the criminal business is not only flourishing in Badeleben. The figures in North Rhine-Westphalia show that thefts from craftsmen's vehicles are showing a worrying trend. The Reporting by WDR highlights that an employee of a craft business in Bergisch Gladbach was confronted with an opened box van in the morning. His tools, worth several thousand euros, had disappeared - not an isolated case, as the police note.

The Bonn police recorded a total of 92 cases of theft from craftsmen's vehicles in the first half of 2023 compared to 54 in the previous year. In Cologne and Leverkusen, 750 break-ins or attempted break-ins have already been registered this year, which is alarming compared to almost 1,000 cases in the entire year of 2022. The perpetrators often use the darkness to strike, preferably close to people's homes.

Craft businesses under pressure

The damage caused to craft businesses is enormous. In addition to the loss of high-quality machines and tools, companies also have to contend with damage to their transporters. The vehicles often remain unused for months, which significantly affects the execution of ongoing orders. According to the Cologne investigative authorities, many of these crimes can be traced back to groups from southeastern Europe who make a good business from the loot, which is probably sold abroad.

Overall, the situation is worrying and is also reflected in the nationwide statistics. According to the Statista A total of around 5.63 million crimes were recorded in Germany in 2022, of which 1.78 million were thefts. It is the first increase in theft crimes since 2015.

Overcoming these challenges requires both preventative measures on the part of craft businesses and an increased police presence in the affected areas. This is the only way to restore trust in the safety of our workshops and companies.