Burglar sleeps in the cellar after robbing wine – police alerted!

Burglar sleeps in the cellar after robbing wine – police alerted!

On the night of Monday, August 11, 2025, the police in Seelingstädt were called to an unusual operation. At around 12:30 a.m., a 38-year-old resident of an apartment building on Ronneburger Strasse noticed suspicious noises in the basement. His discovery led to the conviction of a 31-year-old man who had gained access to the basement rooms in a very special way.

The perpetrator didn't knock on the door obediently, but simply tried out the various doorbells and was finally lucky enough to wake up some of the tenants. The 31-year-old then broke open three cellar compartments with secateurs! The damage was in the mid-three-digit range, including two bottles of wine. You see, the idea of ​​having wine served after a burglary is very dubious.

An unexpected short break in the basement

After cracking open a bottle - and that's not all - the perpetrator decided to take a little siesta in the basement atmosphere. He was quickly taken out of his slumbering state by the police officer. The law enforcement officers immediately initiated criminal proceedings against the strange cellar guest - his preference for wine ultimately led to his downfall.

This incident sheds light on an increasingly common problem in Germany: the increase in residential burglaries. According to current statistics, there were approximately 119,000 cases of theft from homes in 2023, with 77,800 of these crimes classified as burglaries. This represents a bit of a turnaround, as the number of burglaries has increased for the second year in a row, reaching its highest level since 2019. In 2015 there were around 167,000 burglaries, which means we are dealing with a serious problem that cannot be ignored [Statista] reports that...

The break-in and its consequences

The effects of a break-in go far beyond material loss. The people affected often also suffer psychologically from the consequences. One could say that they feel their privacy has been violated and a disturbed sense of security. These factors are extremely relevant because the number of unreported victims is far higher than one might think. The risk of break-ins is particularly high in the cities, which is something every Cologne resident who has been looking in vain for a parking space should know.

A look at the numbers shows that the proportion of foreign suspects in solved residential burglaries rose to a high of 42.9% in 2023. This could be of great interest given the debate about crime and migration in Germany. This situation shows that there is not only material damage, but also social discussions [News.de] reports that...