Police are looking for witnesses after the theft of a Toyota Land Cruiser in Cologne!

Police are looking for witnesses after the theft of a Toyota Land Cruiser in Cologne!

On the night of Wednesday, June 25th, a black Toyota Land Cruiser was stolen in Cologne-Braunsfeld. The car, which had a license plate with the city code “PRÜ” (Prüm), was parked on Geilenkirchener Straße around 11 p.m. A dog that was in the owner's home came forward around 4 a.m., which may have been the time of the theft. Despite the police's quick response, the Land Cruiser remained untraceable.

However, the police are pursuing a lead that could give hope for a quick manhunt. There was an iPad in the vehicle, which was located at 7 a.m. in the area of ​​Badische Allee/Toyota Allee. The officials are now asking the public for help: Who saw suspicious people or vehicles on Geilenkirchener Straße between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Wednesday evening? Your observations could be of great importance.

Appeal to citizens

The Cologne police are calling on all witnesses to provide information about the whereabouts of the Land Cruiser. Particular attention is also paid to observations in the Badische Allee and Toyota Allee areas. Reports can be made directly to the Criminal Investigation Department 74 on 0221 229-0 or via email to poststelle.koeln@polizei.nrw.de. Every tip counts and can help get the vehicle back!

This incident is not alone; Motor vehicle crime increased in Germany in 2023. As the Federal Criminal Police Office reports, 15,924 cars were permanently stolen - an increase of 9 percent compared to the previous year. Vehicles from foreign manufacturers, including Toyota, are increasingly finding themselves in the crosshairs of perpetrators. Criminals are increasingly using sophisticated methods, including “keyless go” technology, to steal vehicles.

Dissemination and protective measures

The numbers regarding increased thefts are alarming. More and more vehicles from Germany are being found abroad. Most stolen cars go through transit regions in Eastern Europe and reach other target markets via Turkey. To protect yourself from possible theft, it is advisable to keep keys in aluminum cases or special boxes and not to leave them directly at the apartment door. These simple measures can help secure your vehicle and stop potential thieves.

Given the current situation, close cooperation between police authorities and vehicle manufacturers is essential. Through joint efforts, motor vehicle crime could be combated more effectively in the future.

For further information, interested readers can read the detailed reports on the website of rheinische-anzeigenblaetter.de, ksta.de and bka.de visit. It remains to be hoped that the stolen Toyota Land Cruiser will soon turn up again and acts like this will be a thing of the past.