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Bochum brings mini cannon to the police – what’s behind it?
On June 17, 2025, a man from Bochum handed in a functioning mini-cannon to the police in Bochum-Ost. Why?
Bochum brings mini cannon to the police – what’s behind it?
An unusual incident is causing a stir in Bochum: a citizen handed in a mini-cannon to the police. This 30 centimeter high piece, which is fully functional, was brought to the Bochum-Ost station by the son of an 87-year-old. What was originally intended with the mini-cannon remains unclear.
The police responded to this strange tax with a joke and asked: “Shoot sparrows with cannons?” What is particularly surprising is that long-time police officers cannot remember ever having received such a device before. According to the police, this is a routine procedure, even if this procedure seems unusual. The mini-cannon, like many other weapons handed over from estates, is to be destroyed, which, according to Tixio, is common practice.
Background to the surrender of weapons
Such a levy raises questions. In Germany there are strict regulations regarding the handling of weapons, which are regulated by the National Weapons Register (NWR). Every gun owner has a unique NWR ID, which is required, among other things, for buying and selling as well as for repairs, as WDR reports. Since September 2020, arms trade processing has been directly linked to the NWR.
The police officers clearly explained that every newly registered weapon is tied to the corresponding NWR IDs. This means that the mini-cannon must also be noted in the NWR when it is destroyed. For example, anyone who applies for a gun ownership card or registers a new weapon receives an overview of existing permits in the form of a master data sheet. This sheet can be sent to the police upon request and contains important information about firearm ownership.
Whether the mini-cannon once played a role in a wild, adventurous hobby or simply ended up as a curious collector's item remains a mystery. What is certain, however, is that our law enforcement officers in Bochum were able to experience a very special levy that day.
The incident is exciting and raises the question: What other bizarre things could end up with the police?