Burglaries on the Rotenbühl: Police warn citizens about criminals!

Burglaries on the Rotenbühl: Police warn citizens about criminals!

A series of break-ins on the Rotenbühl in Saarbrücken is currently causing considerable unrest among residents. A total of six burglaries were committed on the weekend of July 12th and 13th, 2025. In order to inform the population about suitable protective measures, a prevention event on the topic of “burglary protection” took place on Tuesday evening. Around 100 interested citizens took part in this event in the auditorium of the state police headquarters.

Carsten Dewes, head of the State Criminal Police Office, made it clear that break-ins not only cause financial damage, but also severely affect the sense of security of those affected. He called on citizens to contact the police immediately if they see anything suspicious. Also Dr. Helmut Isringhaus, local politician and resident, expressed the desire for more information at the event and for this reason runs a WhatsApp group with over 200 residents.

Current crime statistics and burglary protection

The already worrying crime statistics reflect an increase in residential burglaries in Germany. According to a publication by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Criminal Police Office, there were a total of 65,908 burglaries in 2022, which means an increase of 21.5 percent compared to the previous year (54,236 burglaries). Nevertheless, the number of burglaries in 2022 is below the level of 2019 with 87,145 burglaries. The perpetrators failed in 46.8 percent of the break-in attempts, which underlines the importance of effective security technology. The “Not with me!” initiative has been offering free information and professional advice on the subject of burglary protection for 19 years, making it a valuable partner in raising awareness among the population.

A look at the number of burglaries in Saarland shows a decline from 2,437 cases in 2015 to just 842 in 2024. Despite this positive development, there were eleven burglaries in Rotenbühl last year, including three attempts, six of which were solved. Chief Police Commissioner Michael Gottesleben explained that there is no longer a classic profile of perpetrators. Perpetrators come from all social classes and common stolen items include cash and gold jewelry, while electronic devices are less interesting.

Practical tips for burglary prevention

According to the investigation, burglaries occur through patio doors or floor-to-ceiling windows in 45 percent of cases and through windows in 34 percent. The most common tool used by burglars is the screwdriver. Michael Gottesleben gave the residents some practical tips: Windows should always be closed, the home should appear inhabited and attention should be paid to strangers in the living area. He also advised not to share vacation photos or location data on social media so as not to provide an incentive to potential burglars. Anyone who would like to find out about retrofitting options for burglary protection can find comprehensive information on the website www.k-einbruch.de.