Unknown people blow up cigarette machine in Zwickau-Auerbach!

Unknown people blow up cigarette machine in Zwickau-Auerbach!

On the night of Friday, July 11, 2025, a spectacular act took place in Zwickau-Auerbach. Unknown people blew up a cigarette machine on Salutstrasse around 3:15 a.m., which not only led to an enormous explosion but also caused massive property damage. The Zwickau Police Department reports that the cover of the machine was thrown onto the opposite side of the street and the total damage to property amounts to around 5,300 euros. Tobacco products and cash were scattered around the crime scene, although the exact value of the stolen money has not yet been determined. The police are now looking for more clues and witnesses to get to the bottom of the incident.

An attentive witness reported a person on a bicycle speeding away in the direction of escape immediately after the bang. Anyone who has seen something or can provide information is asked to contact the Zwickau criminal police on 0375 428 4480.

Vandalism and crime in the region

The incident comes at a time when criminality is on the agenda in Germany and especially in Saxony. According to the current criminal statistics evaluation by the Federal Criminal Police Office, the police crime statistics for 2024 show a slight decrease in crime of 1.7% to a total of around 5.84 million cases. The main reason for the decline is fewer cannabis offenses, which can be attributed to partial legalization in April 2024. Nevertheless, it is precisely crimes that affect citizens' sense of security that increasingly need to be taken into account.

The most common crimes are still theft, property crimes and forgery, although crimes against life, such as murder and manslaughter, represent a negligible proportion in comparison. It remains to be seen how the incident with the blown-up cigarette machine will be reflected in future crime statistics.

More incidents in the area

In addition to the explosion incident, other criminal activities also occurred in the area in the previous days. Various crimes occurred in Plauen on July 9th and 10th, 2025, including graffiti vandalism and a break-in into an apartment where unknown persons stole cash worth around 2,000 euros. The police in Plauen are working intensively on the investigation and are also asking for information from the public.

In addition to these incidents, police reported a traffic accident in which a 15-year-old rammed a boulder and parked cars in a VW, and a fight at a festival site that went beyond the hilarity of the occasion.

The cigarette machine is not the only point that influences the security situation in the region. The various incidents shed light on the complexity of crime and therefore on citizens' sense of security, a topic that should be discussed more than ever.

The public can only hope that the police will successfully carry out their investigations and that the perpetrators will be caught quickly. Stay safe and pay attention to your surroundings – together we can not only monitor crime, but actively fight it.