Two pickpockets in Cologne Central Station: Police are asking for information!

Two pickpockets in Cologne Central Station: Police are asking for information!

The alarm bells are currently ringing loudly in Cologne Central Station. The federal police are urgently searching for two men who committed a brazen pickpocket on July 23, 2024. The incident occurred at 8:20 p.m. in the “Meister Bock” snack bar, where a bag worth over 26,000 euros was stolen. The two perpetrators were able to escape via the exit at Breslauer Platz, which made the search more difficult. For this reason, the Cologne District Court ordered a public search at the request of the investigators. According to rheinische-anzeigenblaetter.de, surveillance images are now being published to call on the public to help.

The description of the suspects is as follows:

• **Person 1:** männlich, Kinnbart, dunkle Haare, blaues Kurzarm-Shirt, dunkelblaue Shorts, weiße Schlappen.
• **Person 2:** männlich, schwarze Kappe, Brille, schwarze Jacke/Shirt, Jeans, schwarze Schuhe.

Information about the suspicious men can be submitted by telephone to the Cologne Federal Police on 0221 160 93 2000 or nationwide free of charge on 0800 6 888 000. Of course, tips from any police station are also welcome.

Prevention measures against pickpocketing

In order to counteract the increase in pickpocketing, which caused a total loss of over 52 million euros in 2024, the Federal Police held an information event on the subject of pickpocketing at Cologne Central Station. On June 22, 2023, Thomas Jansen and Elena Beerhenke from Crime Prevention and Victim Protection were on site. They informed travelers about protective measures and carried out a spraying campaign aimed at raising awareness of potential victims, as report-k.de reports. It was particularly emphasized that pickpockets often operate in crowds at events, in shops or on public transport.

The situation is alarming: According to the 2024 police crime statistics, 107,720 pickpocketings were reported in Germany alone, although only around 6.9 percent of the crimes could be solved. Many victims often do not even notice such crimes immediately. This makes it all the more important to take simple behavioral measures that can help protect yourself from pickpocketing, as the Federal Police strongly advises. It is advisable to always keep an eye on your personal belongings, especially in busy areas such as train stations. Most perpetrators are professional thieves who operate internationally, which adds an additional dimension to this form of crime problem.

It is now important for travelers and commuters in Cologne to be vigilant and to be aware of the existing risks. Raising awareness about pickpocketing can help many protect themselves from unpleasant surprises. Cologne Central Station remains a central point where both the police and citizens must actively work to combat this form of crime.