Wave of robberies: Necklace thieves terrorize Nuremberg!

Wave of robberies: Necklace thieves terrorize Nuremberg!

In the Franconian metropolis of Nuremberg, a worrying series of robbery and theft crimes is causing alarm. As the Bavaria Police reports, the Nuremberg criminal investigation department for property and property crimes registered a worrying increase in cases of necklace theft in the summer months. Since the beginning of June 2025, 29 incidents have already been documented, with the city center and the area south of the main train station being particularly affected.

The police have identified twelve perpetrators in the last few weeks, five of whom are already in custody on arrest warrants. The criminals, who predominantly consist of 16 to 31-year-old men, often act alone or in small groups. Most of the stolen items are valuable gold chains, but smartphones and wallets are also often found among the loot. Damages recorded range across a wide spectrum, from a few euros to several thousand euros.

Methods of the perpetrators

The perpetrators' approach is particularly perfidious: they often approach their victims under a pretext. This often involves asking for a cigarette or starting a harmless conversation. The attacks themselves then occur through various methods such as dancing, tearing away or even physical attacks. An example of this scam is an incident on August 17, 2025, when a man was asked for a cigarette and was then followed and attacked by two people in order to steal his necklace as quickly as possible. Depending on the approach, the police classify such acts as either trick theft or robbery.

The current situation brings back memories of a general increase in theft crimes in Germany: According to an analysis by Statista Around 1.78 million thefts were recorded in 2022. What is particularly striking is that the number of robberies has also increased, with over 38,000 cases - a worrying trend that applies to many cities, not just Nuremberg.

Current investigations and call for help

In order to combat this wave of thefts, a special working group was set up within the criminal investigation department to specifically curb the increasing number of cases. The police also analyzed video recordings to track down the perpetrators. The investigation also extends to other untreated cases that may be traced back to the same group of perpetrators.

The Nuremberg criminal police appeals to all those affected to contact the local office and file a report. Hopefully, only with a strengthened partnership between the police and the public can this worrying trend be stopped and safety on the streets of Nuremberg restored.

At a time when security is at the forefront, it is to be hoped that these investigations will quickly bear fruit and such crimes will soon be a thing of the past. Who would have thought that a short walk through the city could bring such threats?