Number of break-ins in Barnim is increasing: police warn residents!

Number of break-ins in Barnim is increasing: police warn residents!

There have been several break-ins in Barnim in the last few days, leaving residents in an alarming silence. On Monday afternoon, a single-family home on Breitscheidstrasse in Werneuchen received an uninvited visitor. The perpetrators broke in by prying open a bathroom window and stole a wallet. The criminal police have taken over the investigation in this case and are looking for clues from the neighborhood. Unfortunately, such incidents are not uncommon in our region, as Barnim Aktuell reports.

Another annoying incident occurred in Eberswalde, where unknown people broke into garages on Georg-Friedrich-Hegel-Strasse on January 19th. Not only was the garage door cracked, but two high-quality e-bikes and their accessories were also stolen. The criminal investigators from the Barnim inspection are still looking for the perpetrators and are asking the public for support.

Considerable damage in Bernau

A company in Bernau b. was hit particularly hard. Berlin, when the unknown people broke into a warehouse on Zepernicker Chaussee on the night of January 19th. From this hall they stole an electrically powered truck with an estimated damage of around 28,000 euros. Interestingly, the stolen truck was rediscovered and confiscated a short time later on Kornblumenstrasse. The investigation to solve the crime is ongoing.

A nationwide challenge

Such incidents are not just a problem in Barnim. According to Statista, there is a worrying trend across Germany: in 2023 there were around 119,000 apartment burglaries. This increase in burglaries, which has been recorded particularly after the corona pandemic, poses major challenges for the police. The clearance rate for residential burglaries was at a low level of just 14.9%, which is worrying.

The high burglary figures were driven by various factors, including increased interest in high-value goods and greater risk in urban environments. The burglary rate tends to be higher in urban federal states, especially in cities like Bremen and Berlin. In contrast, Bavaria has the lowest rate when it comes to burglary statistics.

An example from the neighborhood

We also need to look outside of Barnim. A current case in Siegen describes a similar situation where thieves repeatedly targeted a bicycle shop. Using a van that backed into the shop window, the burglars managed to steal eight high-quality bicycles. The alleged damage is around 80,000 euros and the incident was captured on surveillance cameras, which could aid the investigation, as WDR reports.

Given these various incidents, it is even more important to reconsider your own safety. Be sure to secure your home well and monitor for suspicious activity in your neighborhood. Together we can help improve safety in our neighborhoods.