Offenbach: Safest city in Hesse - crime is falling drastically!

Offenbach: Safest city in Hesse - crime is falling drastically!

In Offenbach am Main, safety is very important. According to the police crime statistics for 2024, the city has achieved the lowest crime rate among the major cities in Hesse. With only 6,046 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, Offenbach ranks impressively fourth out of 84 major and state capitals in a nationwide comparison. This represents a decrease of 17.82 percent compared to the previous year. Paul-Gerhard Weiß, head of the public order department, emphasizes that this trend significantly increases the quality of life of citizens in the city and that security is a central aspect for the people of Offenbach.

The continuous improvement in the security situation in Offenbach is also reflected in the numbers: While 12,539 crimes were registered in 2001, this number will only be 6,046 in 2024. The decline in street crime is particularly notable, with 1,444 cases recording a decrease of 20.3 percent compared to 2001's 3,753 cases.

Decrease in various crimes

The number of cases of theft also fell to 2,463 cases, a decrease of 21.8 percent. Robbery crimes have decreased significantly with 80 cases in 2024; This shows a decrease of 23.8 percent compared to the previous year and almost two thirds compared to 2001. There is also a positive trend in drug-related crime: the number of cases was 594 in 2024, which corresponds to a decrease of 36.8 percent.

Juvenile crime has also fallen, from 1,946 cases in 2001 to 960 in 2024. One notable bright spot is the increase in assault crimes, which rose 12.7 percent with 862 cases. The early 300 cases of domestic violence and the 236 cases of crimes against sexual self-determination also remain worrying, although stable compared to the previous year.

Current developments and challenges

A disturbing trend is the increase in cybercrime, which rose to 808 cases in 2024, an increase of 24.5 percent. This increase shows that, despite positive developments in many areas, digital crime remains a growing challenge.

The close cooperation between the city administration, state and city police is highlighted as a central success factor. This strategy is covered in the special “Green Brochure” from the Southeast Hesse Police Headquarters, which now highlights additional crime developments in the Offenbach and Main-Kinzig districts, as well as in the cities of Offenbach and Hanau.The brochure is available as a PDF document on the police headquarters website.

Nationwide comparison

In the 2024 nationwide security ranking, which is led by Erlangen with only 4,602 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, Offenbach takes fourth place after Fürth and Bergisch Gladbach. It can be reassuring, especially for city dwellers, to know that they live in a city that is developing positively and crime is continually being reduced. In contrast, there are cities such as Bremen, Frankfurt am Main and Berlin, which are at the bottom of the safety rankings. This makes it clear: In Offenbach the feeling of security seems to be improving and thus ensuring a higher quality of life.

These trends are part of a nationwide phenomenon, as the crime rate in Germany as a whole shows a slight decline of 1.7 percent. The main reasons for this are, among other things, falling cannabis offenses, which have been declining since April 1, 2024 due to partial legalization. It remains to be seen what impact these developments will have in the future, especially since not all crimes are recorded in the statistics; Dark field studies show that rapes are reported less frequently than burglaries, which can distort the actual crime situation.Here’s to an exciting time for safety in Offenbach!