Police say that up to now, in the third week of the Bonn Christmas market, there have been 27 reports of pickpocketing. Last year, during the entire Advent season, there were 74 cases. “This shows us that we are on the right track,” says police chief Ursula Brohl-Sowa. Of course, the alarm bells cannot entirely prevent a theft, but: “We want to make visitors more mindful and attentive. We have obviously achieved that,” said the head of the police department.

Undercover officers support uniformed police

Around 16 to 18 uniformed police are in the city to provide security in these days. They are supported by undercover cops who not only keep an eye on visitors at the Christmas market, but also observe the situation closely at public transportation stops. They would not divulge how many undercover units were out in the city. Brohl-Sowa would only say so much, “They are wherever a lot of people are.” She adds, “While customers are looking at the displays, we are looking at those who are watching the customers.”

It was this tactic that enabled an 81-year-old woman to have her wallet returned. It had been stolen from her at a stop on Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz and police returned it to her before she even noticed it was missing. So far, two perpetrators have been caught in the act and arrested. Exchange of information between authorities in Siegburg, Euskirchen and Rhine-Erft County have also brought success.

“With many well-known perpetrators, we already pick them up when they arrive at the train station and send them back,” explained Siegfried Vogel from the “Gabi” police bureau at Bonn’s central train station. 24 persons have been banned from the Christmas market. “We know a lot of small time criminals and we do not let them enter the city,” said Vogel. Orig. text: Gabriele Immenkeppel