60 designer chairs disappeared from the Lübeck cafeteria – who knows the perpetrators?

60 designer chairs disappeared from the Lübeck cafeteria – who knows the perpetrators?

In an unusual theft, 60 valuable designer chairs disappeared overnight from the cafeteria of the University of Lübeck. The collection of the chairs, which have emerged as sought-after classics, happened unnoticed and caused great amazement and puzzlement among chef Andreas Mildner and the students. Time online reports a spiral of disappointment and worry about the valuable pieces of furniture that continue to be missing.

The incident occurred in mid-February 2025 and represents a clear trend, as similar thefts were also reported at other universities in northern Germany. Those stolen include not only the chairs from Lübeck, but also other high-priced models that are important to those interested in collecting. What is particularly important here is the estimated total damage, which is in the five-digit range. Questions remain as to how the perpetrators were able to transport the chairs away unnoticed and whether a serial perpetrator may be behind these crimes. NDR is therefore urgently looking for witnesses.

The background to the thefts

The scam appears to have been well thought out: the perpetrators appear to have made two attempts in Lübeck, first stealing 20 chairs, followed by another 40. This well-coordinated plan speaks for a certain criminal sophistication. After the incidents on the campus of the University of Lübeck, there was also bad news from Braunschweig, where around 80 bright yellow chairs were stolen from the campus of the Technical University. Loud Daily Mirror Such incidents are no longer uncommon and could indicate a new group of perpetrators.

The affected institutions are alarmed. The spokeswoman for the East Lower Saxony Student Union in particular expressed the hope that the stolen chairs would soon turn up again. However, it remains to be seen whether and when this will be the case. After all, the chairs could be a welcome target for criminals due to their collector's value of several hundred euros each.

Situation at the University of Lübeck

The situation is additionally stressful for the students and the cafeteria staff. The cafeteria, which serves around 1,800 students every day, is faced with a lack of space in the kitchen and the urgently needed renovation is proving to be unaffordable. Michael Gruner, head of university catering, was apparently not aware of the special importance of these chairs and now complains that all available chairs should be stored safely. The police are following up on possible leads and checking whether the stolen chairs might be offered on online marketplaces.

Overall, the hope and appeal to the public to provide relevant information about the stolen chairs remains. Because only together can we prevent such valuable pieces from being lost. The student union has already taken safety measures and stored the remaining chairs in Braunschweig.