Mass theft! Fireworks stolen from containers in Bochum

Mass theft! Fireworks stolen from containers in Bochum

It's hard to believe what happened in Bochum and the Steinfurt district: New Year's Eve fireworks were stolen en masse from a supermarket parking lot. The police report that the perpetrators violently broke open the securely stored metal shipping containers filled with around 30 tons of fireworks and transported the explosive goods away. This loot includes rockets, flares, firecrackers, firecrackers and batteries that were actually intended for sale in discount stores. The exact amount of goods stolen remains unclear, but the value of the loot is estimated at a five-digit euro amount, which suggests that the masterminds have expensive motives. Cases of theft from similar containers were also reported in Horstmar and Altenberge, which does not make the investigation any easier. They also report here South Germans.

But that's not the only reason for concern, as the fire and police records around New Year's Eve show. In Leverkusen, numerous small fires had to be extinguished, many of them in garbage and paper containers. Things got particularly dicey in Bonn, where young people shot a homeless man with a New Year's Eve rocket while filming the whole thing with a cell phone. Such incidents are apparently becoming more frequent, as attacks on emergency services have also been reported in various cities. In Dortmund, several hundred revelers set off pyrotechnic objects in the city and some were taken into custody. The police arrested a total of twelve people in Bochum, Herne and Witten, with some resisting the officers. This shows that the turn of the year is becoming more dangerous every year. WDR has compiled the shocking details.

Growing dangers from fireworks

The police union (GdP) is sounding the alarm and warning of the dangers posed by unregulated use of fireworks. GdP chairman Jochen Kopelke said that many people treat legal firecrackers and rockets carelessly. From Monday, when pyrotechnics go on sale, they will be allowed to go on sale again and online orders will also be permitted - a combination that creates additional risks. Clear rules and possible bans on firecrackers could not only increase safety, they would also be urgently needed given the high number of injured people. The GdP has even launched a petition for a federal ban on firecrackers, which already has 2.26 million supporters. The Time has shed light on the background and shows that the discussion about the safety of fireworks requires careful consideration.

Numerous incidents have shown how dangerous pyrotechnics can be: during last New Year's Eve alone, five men died in accidents involving fireworks and hundreds of thousands were injured. Of particular concern are the attacks on emergency services who were attacked with rockets and firecrackers while they were working. These frightening numbers show that it's not just about having fun while partying, but also about the safety of everyone involved. A rethink is urgently needed so that New Year's Eve can be perceived not only as a happy celebration, but also as a safe event.