Animal thieves in Western Pomerania: Nine ducks and chickens disappeared shortly before Christmas!

Animal thieves in Western Pomerania: Nine ducks and chickens disappeared shortly before Christmas!

Worrying news reaches us from Western Pomerania, where the pre-Christmas season is once again illuminating dark shadows. A brazen theft occurred in an allotment garden near Otto-Nuschke-Straße, which brings the local gardens and animal husbandry into focus. A total of nine ducks, two chickens and a rooster were stolen. But that's not all - an increase of one hundredweight (50 kilograms) of fodder and a lawn mower were also taken. The police suspect that the festive season is connected to the thefts and are asking for any relevant information from local residents, who are certainly not forthcoming. It's hard to believe that thefts from allotment gardens are part of everyday life here.

After all, the situation has not improved, as similar incidents occurred in the region in December of the previous year. We remember: In another allotment in Grimmen, two Pomeranian geese and three Muscovy ducks were stolen, and the Grimmen Zoo was not spared either - three chickens were lost at the time. There was also a notable incident in the summer of 2025 in which 30 goldfish, a solar pump, four budgies and three other pet birds were stolen in Grimmen. That makes you wonder: What are these thieves up to in the run-up to Christmas?

Allotment gardens as green oases

But allotments are not only a target for criminals, they also offer an oasis of well-being for many people. They are on the rise in Germany and create a place to retreat from stressful everyday life. There are more than 900,000 allotment gardens across the country and they make an important contribution to climate protection. Professor Fritz Reusswig from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research emphasizes that these oases not only contribute to the cooling of urban areas, but also store CO2 and promote biological diversity. Anyone who looks after a garden is also doing something for the environment.

The Starkenburg allotment gardeners' district association offers support for clubs in order to design gardens in a climate-adapted manner. It is becoming increasingly clear that allotment gardens also have a social value. The joy they bring to people is undeniable. In regions rich in bird species, surveys show a closer connection with the life satisfaction of the people living there. It is time to value allotments before they disappear forever due to new buildings and roads.

The run-up to Christmas this year already promises more unrest than many would wish for. If you have any tips or information about the theft mentioned, do not hesitate to contact the police. And remember: every allotment, every animal and every plant can represent a piece of joy in life and a protective space for the future.