Unknown threatened kiosk employee in Schöningen – police are looking for witnesses!

Unknown threatened kiosk employee in Schöningen – police are looking for witnesses!

In the last few days there have been several incidents in Schöningen, a small town in the Helmstedt district, that have affected citizens' sense of security. Last Wednesday, July 17, 2025, at around 7:19 p.m. there was a threatening attack on a kiosk in the street market, which caused a stir. An unknown man, estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old and approximately 1.75 to 1.90 meters tall, entered the late store and asked questions about marijuana in an initial conversation before later returning with a weapon-like object. The seller, a 40-year-old man, was threatened and asked to hand over cash, but refused to give in to pressure. The perpetrator fled without loot through an alley in the direction of the Brauhof, while the kiosk employee tried to pursue him but lost track. Luckily he was uninjured. The police have launched a search for the fugitive perpetrator and are hoping for information from the public by calling 05351-5210 in Helmstedt regionalheute.de reported.

Another attack occurred at the same time in Schöningen, but this time a fashion store was the target of an attack. Here a perpetrator, around 35 years old and around 1.80 meters tall, approached an employee threateningly and also demanded cash. This incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon and the perpetrator was able to escape with the loot towards St. Vincent's Church. Unfortunately, it is not yet known how much money he stole. The police are also asking for information from witnesses by calling (05352) 968 30 ndr.de reported.

The crime situation in Germany

These incidents fall into an already worrying trend in crime. Overall, the Federal Criminal Police Office's police crime statistics (PKS) for 2024 show that the number of crimes fell to around 5.84 million, which means a decrease of 1.7% compared to 2023. This is seen as a success of the partial legalization of cannabis since April 2024, which has led to a decrease in cannabis-related crimes. However, there is a growing concern about the increase in crime, which is affecting people's overall sense of security statista.com executes.

Particularly noteworthy are the most common crimes in 2024, which include theft, property and counterfeit crimes, and brutality crimes. Crimes against personal freedom can also be classified as alarming. The highest crime rates were recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which also has an impact on residents' sense of security.

In view of the current incidents in Schöningen, it is to be hoped that citizens will remain vigilant and support the police in identifying the suspects. Security in one's own neighborhood is a valuable asset for many, and cooperation with law enforcement authorities is essential to strengthen the feeling of security and to prevent such attacks in the long term.