Armed shoplifter: arrest at Görlitz train station causes excitement!

Armed shoplifter: arrest at Görlitz train station causes excitement!

An astonishing incident occurred at Görlitz train station when federal police arrested an armed shoplifter. The 28-year-old, who comes from Poland, had previously gone on a shopping spree in two stores. In total, he stole four pairs of Nike shoes worth around 320 euros as well as various items of clothing, including jeans and T-shirts, worth a total of around 160 euros. According to reports from the South German newspaper The man managed to escape while holding a knife in his hand, which alerted the witnesses.

The crime happened on July 12, 2025 on Berliner Strasse, where after his first theft the man left no doubt that he intended to move on with a second purchase. Witnesses followed him towards the train station, where the federal police finally caught him. After his arrest, he was taken for identification processing, where photos, DNA samples and fingerprints were taken.

Determination and consequences

During an investigation it was discovered that the delinquent had also consumed alcohol and drugs in addition to the theft. He had the equivalent of 1.22 per mille of alcohol in his blood, and a drug test showed amphetamine and cannabis. The View reports that he now has to answer for theft with weapons. After completing the measures, the police handed him over to the responsible state authorities, where he was finally released.

These incidents are part of a larger trend of theft crime in Germany. According to the latest police crime statistics published in April 2025, there were around 5.8 million recorded crimes in 2024, with theft offenses accounting for over 1.94 million cases. Compared to previous years, a slight decrease in shoplifting was recorded, with 404,907 cases, a decrease of 5%, as the Federal Criminal Police Office determines.

During the Corona pandemic, the number of thefts fell due to limited shopping opportunities, but there was an initial increase after the pandemic. The decline in recent years is attributed to various factors, such as technical security measures, increasing public awareness and the use of surveillance techniques. However, there remains a certain risk, which perpetrators like the 28-year-old also make clear.

Overall, crime in the area of ​​theft appears to have a mixed record, but the cases identified once again highlight the importance of remaining vigilant. The statistics and incidents should serve as an incentive for society to pay more attention to safety and not simply to lull itself into safety.