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Alarming wave of fraud: East Brandenburg's gas stations in its sights!
Find out how gas station fraud increased in East Brandenburg in 2024 and what measures will be taken against the perpetrators.
Alarming wave of fraud: East Brandenburg's gas stations in its sights!
In 2024, around 902 cases of gas station fraud were reported in East Brandenburg, as reported by rbb24. This represents a decrease compared to the 1,255 cases in 2023. Nevertheless, the clearance rate remains alarmingly low; only every third case is solved. The gas station operators affected often do not comment publicly on the incidents, which means the problem remains hidden.
According to an employee at a gas station in Oder-Spree, there are one or two cases of fraud per month. The authorities have also discovered that many perpetrators wear helmets or sunglasses, among other things, to conceal their identity. This makes it difficult for the police to catch the criminals, who often fill up with false license plates and then disappear without paying.
Challenges for gas station operators
There are significant differences in cases of fraud between individual regions. Most thefts occurred in Barnim, where 530 cases were registered in 2023, followed by 366 cases in 2024. Oder-Spree and Märkisch-Oderland also have frequent cases of fraud, while Uckermark recorded the fewest with 74 cases in 2023 and 65 in 2024.
Another worrying point is the increasing level of professionalization of perpetrators. These often travel with additional canisters in the vehicle, which causes additional worries for gas station operators. The North-East Association of Garage and Gas Station Operators confirmed to rbb24 that gas station fraud is a nationwide problem. Fraud cases increase, particularly at Christmas time, which underlines the need for protective measures.
Possible solutions
To counter the trend, many gas stations have begun turning off or locking gas pumps in the evenings. Better lighting at gas stations could also help deter thieves or identify them better. However, gas station ATMs that require advance payment are currently rather rare in Germany. Experts point out that many gas station operators live primarily from the income from the shop business, not from direct fuel sales.
Signs of an increase in fraud, particularly at more remote gas stations, are calling for a rethink in the industry. The perpetrators' continued lack of transparency and low clearance rates not only threaten the existence of gas station operators, but also the safety of customers.