Culture

In which Berlin areas do the highest number of car thefts occur?

Berlin has specific locations where a safe garage could help drivers sleep more peacefully. These areas include City-West and the eastern outskirts of the city in Marzahn-Hellersdorf, as these are hot spots for car thefts.

SymClub

May 15, 2024

2 min read

News, Car insurance, Fully comprehensive insurance, Berlin regional news, Partial casco, Theft, Car theft

Waldemar Juskowiak (68) from Kreuzberg: "I've lived in Berlin for forty years and I've never had a... — Waldemar Juskowiak (68) from Kreuzberg: "I've lived in Berlin for forty years and I've never had a car stolen. But I also have a garage and my car is insured against theft. I'm not worried - but the police have to do something"

In-depth examination of each zone. - In which Berlin areas do the highest number of car thefts occur?

In 2023, car theft in Berlin reached its peak in the past 21 years, with a whopping 7781 cars stolen! Nationwide, there were 25,977 cars stolen. The data comes from the police statistics:

In Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, a whopping 899 cars were stolen, while Mitte had only 437 thefts. The area with the least car theft was Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, with just 394 cars stolen. Interestingly, many bikes were stolen in Wrangelkiez of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg - a staggering 305 in 2023.

But where do these hot goods end up? State Secretary of the Interior Christian Hochgrebe (SPD) explains, "All freeways and expressways are used to transport them to neighboring Eastern European countries, especially Poland." He adds, "There, they're either sold as a whole or dismantled into individual parts. Or they're moved on to other sales markets in Central Asia, or even shipped to the Middle East or Africa."

So, what are these cars in demand for? The most frequently stolen car brand was Renault (1063 cars), followed by Mercedes (774) and Volkswagen (704). Even Tesla wasn't spared, with seven of its cars being stolen.

The financial damage is astounding. Over the past ten years, the costs have nearly doubled, from 87 million euros to 162 million euros.

And who's responsible for all this? Legal expert for the Left Party parliamentary group, Sebastian Schlüsselburg, blames the Senate, saying Mayor Kai Wegner used grand promises of increased safety and commitment to drivers during the election campaign. However, instead of implementing measures to counteract car theft, the Senate is now planning to cut millions from the police budget to cover the deficit.

What makes Berlin such a hotbed for car theft? High-value cars parked on the roadside, the close proximity to Eastern Europe, and the lack of intra-European border controls are significant factors.

Surprisingly, last year saw only 127 cases against car thieves.