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Cigarette vending machine in Dülmen blown open – thousands of euros in damage!
Unknown perpetrators blow up cigarette machines in Dülmen; Police are looking for witnesses. Extensive property damage and investigations are ongoing.
Cigarette vending machine in Dülmen blown open – thousands of euros in damage!
On Sunday evening, December 30, 2025, the residents of Dülmen witnessed a spectacular crime. Unknown perpetrators blew up a cigarette machine on Hoher Heckenweg around 10:30 p.m. and escaped with a considerable amount of tobacco products. Loud regionalupdate.de you can hear the loud bang, which then led to the criminal investigation.
The machine, which is operational around the clock, was significantly damaged by the explosion and the material damage is estimated at several thousand euros. The investigators secured traces on site in order to obtain clues to the unknown perpetrators. This type of incident once again shows the problem of ATM break-ins, which not only cause a lot of damage but also increase criminal influences in our society.
An alarming phenomenon
The Dülmen police have already announced that they will carry out increased patrols and targeted checks in the coming weeks in order to prevent further crimes. In regions with frequent incidents, technical safeguards for vending machines are being considered. Loud strafrechtsblogger.de There are repeated cases in which perpetrators tried to crack cigarette machines using various techniques. For example, one defendant provided burglary tools and covered up a machine to muffle the noise - but this did not lead to a successful crime in his case.
A look at the legal framework also shows that the distinction between the preparation and experimental stages is crucial for such theft crimes. The Federal Court of Justice had made it clear that even attempting to obtain stolen goods is a punishable offense. These developments shed light on the need for security measures to protect machines from theft and vandalism.
The role of cigarette vending machines in society
Cigarette machines are an integral part of public spaces. They offer quick access to tobacco products, but are also a popular target for criminal activity. Historically, cigarette vending machines in Germany have been in steady decline since the 1990s. From around 815,000 machines in 1997, the number fell to just 320,000 by 2018, showing a clear trend towards decline. In Austria, where they can also be found in restaurants and on the street, the minimum age for purchase was raised to 18 in 2019 to ensure the protection of minors according to Wikipedia.
In light of recent incidents, it is a sad reality that many ATM operators forget the importance of safety precautions. There's something going on - also for Dülmen, which now has to increasingly deal with crime in connection with cigarette machines.
The police are asking witnesses who have relevant information to call 02594-7930. Only with the support of the public can the perpetrators be identified and future crimes prevented.