Pockets are active: Protect your valuables now!

Pockets are active: Protect your valuables now!

In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the topic of pickpocketing is becoming increasingly pressing. On Monday, October 8th, there was a preventive information event on the program, which indicates the importance of clarification in relation to this widespread form of theft. Under the direction of chief criminal commissioner Michael Meinerzhagen and police chief commissioner Andreas Westhoff, citizens were informed about how they can effectively protect themselves from thefts.

The event was part of the annual focus measure "eyes open and bag! Langfinger are always on the move." The police relied on the distribution of flyers and printed handkerchiefs to raise awareness of pickpocketing. Meinerzhagen emphasized that thieves often strike in inattentive moments when people do not have a look at their valuables.

prevention by enlightenment

"Too little attention can have fatal consequences," said Meinerzhagen. He recommended wearing wallets and handbags close to the body instead of taking them in the shopping cart or on a walker. Many people carry all their valuables in their wallets, which makes them a target for long fingers. "You should never have too much cash or important cards," warned the criminal officer.

deposits could be derived from the previous number of case numbers: In 2023, the number of pickpocketing in North Rhine -Westphalia rose to 39,519 cases compared to 37,321 in the previous year. This illustrates that preventive measures are urgently needed to stop this development.

"We have to sensitize people to the topic," said Westhoff. He added that the police took over over 400 campaigns in this focus last year and could reach around 950,000 citizens. The aim is that everyone is perfectly informed to prevent pickpocketing in time.

increasing number of cases in Olpe

The situation in the district of Olpe is correct, since the number of cases there has increased by over 35% compared to the previous year. A total of 96 pickpockets were registered in 2023, while only 71 cases were reported in 2022. This not only represents an increase, but also exceeds the figures from 2019 when only 50 acts were recorded.

"We encourage citizens to be vigilant and inform themselves. Especially in the crowd, a sufficient distance from strangers should always be observed. The separate storage of credit and banking cards is also an important security aspect," explain the civil servants and thus provide valuable advice on their own security.

The police also recommend memorizing the PIN codes in order to make access to accounts for thieves difficult. Valuables should never remain unattended, and bags should always be carried to the body with the closure side to minimize the risk of theft.

For more information on theft protection, interested parties can visit the website www.polizei-beratung.de . Hopefully the number of cases in the region can be reduced through proactive measures and increased sensitivity.