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Southwest Germany Sees Fuel-Theft Spate as Prices Climb, LKA Warns of More

Officials lack validated figures to confirm a wider surge.

Overview

  • Police in Donauwörth opened an inquiry after about 300 liters of diesel were stolen from a parked truck in Tapfheim, with tank-cap locks broken and damage estimated at roughly €600, and they appealed for witnesses.
  • The state criminal police office said higher pump prices tied to the Iran conflict are likely to push fuel-theft numbers up this year.
  • March police reports across the southwest logged dozens of cases, with thieves siphoning 100 to several thousand liters and targeting dark, unmonitored parking areas and construction sites.
  • The Tankstellen-Interessenverband reported only a slight rise among member stations so far but warned of local spikes at sites without video monitoring and urged operators to install cameras.
  • The Interior Ministry said representative data are not yet available, and earlier declines since 2024 could reverse if prices stay high and thefts at vulnerable sites continue.