The police warn: thefts from vehicles in Höxter-Ottbergen increase!

The police warn: thefts from vehicles in Höxter-Ottbergen increase!

A series of thefts from vehicles in Höxter-Ottbergen is currently causing excitement and employs the criminal police. So far, five cases have been reported in which unknown perpetrators opened and searched for unknown perpetrators. Dealed items include technical devices, tools and wallets with banking cards, whereby cash was even withdrawn from an affected account. Affected streets include Steinäckernstraße, "on the jump" and "Bruchhäuser Straße".

The alleged ruts took place on the night of Sunday, February 2, on Monday, February 3. Initial investigations by the police indicate that the thefts were carried out around 3 a.m. The police ask for information from possible witnesses who can contact 05271/962-0. Other affected people are also asked to contact the Höxter police in order to contribute further important information if necessary. Radio Hochstift reports on these incidents and the ongoing investigations.

growing problem of vehicle theft

The incidents in Höxter-Ottbergen are alarming examples of the growing problem of vehicle theft in Germany. Statistics show that the number of stolen passenger cars rose from 14,615 in 2022 to 15,924 in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of around 9 %. Vehicles of Asian manufacturers such as Toyota, Hyundai and Kia are particularly affected, whereby SUVs and mid -range cars are preferred destinations of the thieves.

Another worrying trend is evident in the increase in thefts of small vans, the number of which has increased by 48.4 %. Despite the high resale value, the theft rate remains stable for motorhomes. These developments illustrate the importance of security measures. GPS trackers in particular are advertised as effective for the localization of stolen vehicles. Likewise, the problem of modern car theft protection systems cannot be ignored, since vehicles with keyless go systems are particularly susceptible to so-called relay attacks, in which thieves use radio amplifiers to extend the signals and unlock the vehicles. Hoexter police provides additional information on this topic.

international cooperation in the fight against vehicle theft

In addition to regional measures, the international fight against vehicle theft is reinforced by working with Interpol. In the Operation Carback, which was carried out in 77 countries from May 16 to 31, 2022, over 1,100 stolen vehicles and several dozen motorcycles were identified. The operation also promoted the uncovering of so -called "Chop Shops", in which stolen vehicles are illegally disassembled. The vehicle identification numbers (VIN) play a crucial role in the traceability of stolen vehicles.

The Interpol database for stolen motor vehicles (SMV) provides international help and was able to help identify 248,000 stolen vehicles last year. This global cooperation and the use of modern technology are crucial in order to cope with the steadily growing challenge of vehicle theft. The developments in Höxter-Ottbergen are a local but very real part of this international phenomenon, which requires attention and measures to increase the safety of vehicle owners.