Bicycle-riding thief caught with Playstation 4 – police investigate!

Bicycle-riding thief caught with Playstation 4 – police investigate!

There have been several incidents in Bremerhaven in the last few days that have to do with the topic of theft and escaping the police. On Tuesday morning, officers in Bremerhaven-Lehe noticed a man on a bicycle. What was noticeable was a distinctive bag that was securely attached to the handlebars. When the suspect spotted the patrol car, he made an abrupt turn, which made the police suspicious. Shortly afterwards they gave chase, but the man fled into a backyard.

He met the officers in the backyard on his bicycle, but without the bag. When asked what was in the bag, the 38-year-old explained that it was a Playstation 4. However, he was unable to conclusively explain where the bag had gone. The police finally found the carrier bag on a wooden shack in the backyard. The origin of the Playstation and controller remains unclear for the time being, and the officers initiated an investigation on suspicion of theft, as Bremerhaven police report.

A bicycle thief's attempt to escape

The police in Bremerhaven encountered another case of escape and resistance on Monday, March 17th. A caller reported a stolen Pedelec that someone was carrying. When the police officers spoke to the driver, he fled and escaped for the time being. The police immediately initiated a search and later spotted the suspect on Columbusstrasse.

Here, however, the pursuit took a turn: the suspect tried to escape through several streets, including past the Geestemünde police station. He resisted arrest, which resulted in minor injuries to both him and the officers. Ultimately, the suspect had to be taken into police custody. During the arrest, the officers also found narcotics and a third-party health insurance card on the man. Several criminal charges have been filed against him, including for particularly serious theft and resistance against law enforcement officers, as Nordische Post reports.

Theft statistics in focus

The incidents in Bremerhaven do not stop and are in a larger context if you take a look at the national statistics. According to ZDF, the number of bicycle thefts fell in 2024, but the average damage increased. E-bikes in particular are targeted by organized crime who want to sell them abroad. The average amount of damage is now over 1,190 euros, while the clearance rate is less than 10 percent. For cyclists, this means that high-quality locks and code systems are becoming increasingly important.

These events are not only worrying, but also highlight the need for every cyclist to better protect their bike. As Stiftung Warentest recommends, owners should code their bicycles with identification numbers and pay attention to security in order to prevent loss in the future. After all, it's better to be on the safe side than to deal with unpleasant surprises.