Burglary in Bregenz drugstore: perpetrators escape in the van!

Burglary in Bregenz drugstore: perpetrators escape in the van!

On the night of September 14th to 15th, 2025, a drugstore on Rathausstrasse in Bregenz was broken into. Three unknown perpetrators forced their way into the sales rooms and stole high-quality perfume and care products. The exact amount of goods stolen has not yet been quantified. The perpetrators fled around 4:05 a.m. in a dark van in the direction of Römerstrasse. A detailed description of the getaway vehicle is not yet available.

The Bregenz State Criminal Police Office has taken over the investigation and the police are asking the public for information. Witnesses are asked to call +43 (0) 59 133 80 3333 to report any relevant observations or details about the crime.

Burglary statistics and perpetrator profiles

The recent incident in Bregenz comes in the context of a worrying increase in the number of burglaries across Europe. In Germany, the police registered a total of 77,819 residential burglaries in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of 18 percent compared to the previous year. On average, 213 burglaries are committed every day, with the average damage per burglary being around 3,500 euros. Overall, the damage from burglaries in Germany in 2023 amounted to 340 million euros. These numbers show a clear trend: The number of burglaries is increasing noticeably after the corona pandemic, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia, where an increase of 15 percent was recorded.

The most common break-in methods are prying open doors, while cylinder pulling also plays a role. Popular points of attack are balcony and patio doors, which are attacked in 50 percent of cases, followed by windows (30 percent) and front doors (20 percent). Casual and spontaneous perpetrators account for approximately 80 percent of all burglaries, indicating that many burglaries are not committed by professional criminals.

Prevention and safety

In view of the increasing number of burglaries, prevention measures are becoming increasingly important. The police offer free security consultations to educate citizens about effective security solutions. Mechanical and electronic security measures are crucial to prevent break-ins. Experts recommend a combination of structural, mechanical and electronic security solutions to minimize the risk of a break-in.

The events in Bregenz are an alarming example of the current trend in break-ins. Concern about safety within one's own four walls could become even more important in the future.

For more information about the break-in in Bregenz, please visit vol.at or vorarlberg.orf.at. Detailed statistics on burglaries in Germany can be found at home-insider.de.