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CRIME

Pickpockets hitting rail passengers: police

Thieves are making a fortune in Germany's train stations, police have warned, as they launch a campaign to try and tackle the country's growing number of pickpocketing cases.

Pickpockets hitting rail passengers: police
Photo: DPA

In train stations across Germany, posters and floor displays catch travellers' eyes with their distinctive red, yellow and black graphics.

“Achten Sie auf Ihre Wertsachen,” they warn. And in English: “Look after your valuables.”

The messages are part of a campaign launched by police in association with Deutsche Bahn.

Aiming to remind passengers of the importance of looking after their possessions, the campaign hopes to tackle a growing problem in German's busiest train stations: pickpocketing.

'Professional and international criminals'

Figures for pickpocketing have risen sharply across Germany in recent years. Last year alone, police recorded some 35,760 incidents – a 19 per cent increase on 2013 figures.

The trend looks set to continue. In the first half of 2015, around 20,200 cases have already been recorded across the country – a 22 per cent increase compared with the same time period last year.

“In most cases, the thieves work in groups, and they often also operate in several European countries,” said a spokesperson for Potsdam police headquarters in a statement.

Pickpockets are often “professional and international criminals,” he added.

Last year, cases reported to police cost victims €6.1 million, including stolen cash, personal documents and bank cards.

Victims of this kind of crime are unlikely to get their valuables back – with most only realizing long after the theft itself that their items are gone.

Distracting their victims

Thieves often work in groups of between three and six, police explained.

“One member of the group keeps a lookout and another distracts the victim, while a third member carries out the robbery,” a spokesperson described.

Pickpockets often have a range of distraction maneuvers at their fingertips, police said.

One of these sees a group member “accidentally” spilling a drink on an intended victim. While the victim is distracted and being helped to clean up, another group member approaches and carries out the theft.

In other cases, a group member will feign drunkenness, and stagger towards a traveler. While the victim is distracted, they are robbed by an accomplice.

Police are warning travellers to avoid careless behaviour in pickpocketing hotspots – for example, leaving bags unattended, or carrying an open bag with phone and wallet clearly visible and accessible.

 

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BUSINESS

Elon Musk visits Tesla’s sabotage-hit German factory

Elon Musk travelled Wednesday to Tesla's factory near Berlin to lend his workers "support" after the plant was forced to halt production by a suspected arson attack on nearby power lines.

Elon Musk visits Tesla's sabotage-hit German factory

The Tesla CEO addressed thousands of employees on arrival at the site, accusing “eco-terrorists” of the sabotage as he defended his company’s green credentials.

With his son X AE A-XII in his arms, Musk said: “I am here to support you.”

The billionaire’s visit came a week after power lines supplying the electric carmaker’s only European plant were set on fire in an act of sabotage claimed by a far-left group called the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group).

READ ALSO: Far-left group claims ‘sabotage’ on Tesla’s German factory

Musk had said then that the attack was “extremely dumb”, while the company said it would cost it several hundred million euros.

A week on, the lights have come back on at the site, but Andre Thierig, who heads the site, said on LinkedIn that it would “take a bit of time” before production is back to full speed.

Industry experts have warned that the reputational impact caused by the sabotage on the region could be more severe than the losses suffered by Tesla.

Tesla’s German plant started production in 2022 following an arduous two-year approval and construction process dogged by administrative and legal obstacles.

Tesla wants to expand the site by 170 hectares and boost production up to one million vehicles annually to feed Europe’s growing demand for electric cars and take on rivals who are shifting away from combustion engine vehicles.

But the plans have annoyed local residents, who voted against the project in a non-binding ballot last month.

After the vote, Tesla said it might have to rethink the plans. Environmental activists opposed to the expansion of the factory have recently also set up a camp in a wooded area near the plant.

READ ALSO: Why is Tesla’s expansion near Berlin so controversial?

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