Beware, thieves! Police explain tricks against pickpocketing in the supermarket

Beware, thieves! Police explain tricks against pickpocketing in the supermarket

The Berlin police are holding a preventive week on the subject of pickpocketing from October 6th to 10th, 2025. The aim of the event is to raise awareness among citizens and visitors of Berlin about the tricks and methods used by pickpockets. This reports berlin.de.

Crime statistics currently show that although the number of pickpocketings has fallen, they continue to represent a significant problem for people's sense of security. How rbb24 According to reports, supermarkets are often the preferred crime scene because perpetrators take advantage of victims' carelessness. They use distraction tricks in teamwork to steal valuables, which is made clear in the interview with Detective Director Lothar Spielmann.

Kick-off event and prevention measures

The opening event for Prevention Week will take place on Monday, October 6, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the forecourt of Potsdamer Platz in Berlin-Mitte. A police prevention mobile is available there as an information stand. Criminal Director Spielmann will be on site from 11:00 a.m. to answer questions and draw attention to the pickpockets' methods. A moderated demonstration by a federal police crime prevention team will demonstrate the modus operandi of pickpockets.

The prevention week is not only held in Berlin, but also takes place in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn AG in several other federal states, including Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Bremen, Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg, Hesse, Thuringia, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Saarland. This annual week of action is being organized for the fourth time and aims to increase security awareness among the population.

Tips to avoid pickpocketing

The Berlin police recommend some measures to prevent pickpocketing. It is particularly important to store valuables in internal, lockable pockets. Here are some useful tips to protect yourself:

• Nur das Notwendigste an Bargeld und Wertsachen mitnehmen.
• Wertsachen eng am Körper tragen, beispielsweise in Jackeninnentaschen.
• Handtaschen und Rucksäcke stets geschlossen halten und niemals unbeaufsichtigt lassen.
• Rucksäcke in Gedränge immer vorn tragen und hohe Bargeldsummen nicht zur Schau stellen.

The pickpockets' tricks are varied and constantly updated. The best-known methods include the “supermarket trick,” in which perpetrators empty the victims’ bags from the shopping cart during a diversionary maneuver, or the “jostling trick,” in which victims are robbed while pushing. Other tricks that are often used are listed in an article polizei-beratung.de explained in more detail.

The Berlin police hope that the upcoming week of action, supported by the Federal Police and other federal states, will help raise awareness of this problem and thus further reduce the number of pickpocketings.