Burglar in Cologne-Poll: Residents catch suspected perpetrator in mobile home!

Burglar in Cologne-Poll: Residents catch suspected perpetrator in mobile home!

A suspected burglar who is said to have broken into a mobile home in Cologne-Poll was caught by local residents last Saturday evening, August 9th. At 10:30 p.m., witnesses observed the 45-year-old man coming out of the broken-in vehicle with two bags and fleeing when he was approached. However, the courageous residents refused to be shaken off and pursued the suspect until the police arrived, who were finally able to arrest him. The man, who has no fixed address and is known nationwide for similar crimes, was taken into custody at the request of the public prosecutor, as Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports.

Recently, it has been observed that residential burglaries are increasing again in Germany. After the Corona restrictions, there were around 119,000 thefts from apartments nationwide in 2023, with around 77,800 being classified as residential burglaries. This is the highest level since 2019, although the numbers are still well below 2015 levels. According to experts, urban states such as Bremen, Berlin and Hamburg are particularly affected, while Bavaria has the lowest burglary rate, as Statista notes.

Further police operations in Cologne

In another action, officers noticed several power tools in a white van during a traffic stop in Meschenich. A 27-year-old man and his 24-year-old passenger are now suspected of receiving stolen property. The man already had to pay a security deposit of 600 euros. A 23-year-old driver in Zollstock is also being prosecuted because he was driving without a valid driver's license, as News.de reports.

The increasing numbers of residential burglaries and police actions highlight the importance of vigilance in the neighborhood. The residents of Poll have shown a good hand here by not only remaining active, but also informing the police immediately. This type of cooperation between citizens and police can be crucial to improving the feeling of safety in neighborhoods and combating crime.