Burglars strike in Schmölln and Nobitz – police are looking for witnesses!

Burglars strike in Schmölln and Nobitz – police are looking for witnesses!

In Altenburg, the increase in break-ins in companies and on construction sites is causing concern among residents. In a current incident, unknown persons struck on a company premises in the Schmöllner Industriering between June 20th and June 23rd, 2025. The perpetrators stole a freight elevator from the back of a vehicle. The value of this construction device is in the mid four-digit range. Amazingly, the break-in was not reported to police until a week later and an investigation into serious theft is ongoing. The police are asking witnesses who may have seen something to contact them on 0167908/2025 to provide information. These incidents show that it is time to be vigilant in the region.

A break-in was also recorded in Nobitz, which occurred between Saturday and Monday. As a result, the business premises of a company were ransacked and the perpetrators stole cash in the low three-digit range. They also caused medium four-digit damage to the building. Here too, the police are investigating and are asking the public for help. Anyone with information can call 03447 4710 with reference number 0167643/2025. Such incidents worry not only business owners but also residents who feel unsafe in their surroundings.

Growing problem of construction site theft

But there are not only problems with break-ins in Altenburg and Nobitz. Thieves also struck in Meuselwitz: between June 21st, 6:00 p.m. and June 23rd, 2025, 7:00 a.m., a large amount of high-quality hand-held construction machinery, including batteries, was stolen from a construction site “Am Auholz”. The police estimate the total damage at around 10,000 euros. Several construction containers were forcibly opened, and three other empty containers were damaged, but nothing was stolen. Anyone who has observed unusual activity during this period can contact the police on 0365 / 8234 1465.

Demands for increased safety measures on construction sites are increasing. Industry representatives and security services recommend, among other things, introducing video surveillance, motion detectors and increased night checks to prevent future thefts. These measures could help increase residents' and workers' sense of security and deter thieves.

Burglaries in Germany

The number of break-ins in Germany is worrying. According to current statistics, there were around 119,000 thefts in German apartments in 2023, of which around 77,800 were classified as residential burglaries. The increase in break-ins occurred for the second year in a row and reached the highest level since 2019. For many people, the protection of privacy and their own sense of security is severely impaired after such incidents; Psychological sequelae are not uncommon. The risk is particularly high in urban areas. In Mülheim an der Ruhr, for example, a burglary rate of 283 cases per 100,000 inhabitants was recorded.

The clearance rate for residential burglaries is only 14.9% in 2023, which is low compared to the overall rate of all crimes. What is particularly striking is that 42.9% of the suspects are of foreign origin. These figures make it clear that the issue of burglaries represents a challenge for society as a whole that affects not only the security authorities, but also the entire population.

The people in Altenburg, Nobitz and Meuselwitz are called upon to support each other and remain vigilant. Only together can crime be counteracted.