Dramatic theft: power cables stolen from the Lindenau Museum!

Dramatic theft: power cables stolen from the Lindenau Museum!

In Altenburg, the police uncovered a brazen theft on the construction site of the Lindenau Museum, where around 150 meters of power cable was stolen. Between June 20 and 23, 2025, unknown perpetrators cut the connections to two distribution boxes, which were also damaged. Although the exact damage cannot yet be quantified, it will probably be in the four-digit range, as abg-info.de reports.

The investigation is underway into allegations of particularly serious theft, as the police assume that the perpetrators acted in a planned manner. The construction site on Gabelentzstrasse is not only a place of progress, but also a cultural anchor point for the city of Altenburg. In order to reach possible witnesses, the police rely on information and ask anyone who has observed anything suspicious to call 03447 / 471-0.

A widespread problem

But Altenburg is not alone with this problem. According to a current study by BauWatch, eight out of ten construction site managers in Germany experience theft at least once a year. Of the 500 respondents, two thirds believe that construction site crime will increase in 2023. It's not just large machines that are stolen - in fact, small tools are affected in 53 percent of cases, while cables, as in the case of the Lindenau Museum, are declared in 47 percent of stolen goods. You can find out more about this in the report on bauwatch.com.

Thefts on construction sites not only cause financial losses; they also bring delays, affecting 43 percent of projects. In many cases, the continuation of construction work is even at great risk - in around one in eight cases, projects cannot be continued. In addition to the cost increases that result, this also has an impact on the image of construction companies.

A call for safety

In view of the increasing number of thefts, many experts are calling for security measures to be seriously integrated into the planning before construction begins. BauWatch makes four recommendations to improve safety on construction sites:

• Sichtbare Maßnahmen wie Kameratürme und temporäre Zäune
• Fachgerechte Ausleuchtung der Baustellen
• Klar geregelte Kommunikation und regelmäßige Schulungen für Mitarbeiter
• Investition in robuste Sicherheitssysteme und individuelle Risikoevaluierungen

The planned construction site of the Lindenau Museum should be a symbol of progress and cultural development in Altenburg. Even in times of increasing crime, it is essential to protect such projects with appropriate security concepts. This is the only way we can ensure that the city blooms and thrives – without unwanted disruption.

Anyone who is traveling in the Gabelentzstrasse area and has noticed something suspicious can only hope that the perpetrators are caught quickly. A sharp look and a courageous step can often achieve great things.