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Copper thieves strike again: attempted theft in Hedelfingen!
Unknown thieves tried to steal copper downpipes from the old church in Hedelfingen. Police are looking for witnesses.
Copper thieves strike again: attempted theft in Hedelfingen!
On the night of October 14th to 15th, 2025, an attempted theft was committed at the Old Church on Amstetter Straße in Stuttgart-Hedelfingen. Unknown perpetrators attempted to steal copper downpipes. While a copper downpipe was indeed torn off, the thieves were unable to dislodge it from its anchorage. The material damage caused amounts to around 500 euros. The police have asked witnesses who noticed anything unusual that night for information and can be reached on 0711 8990-3500, according to WiliH.de.
Another incident in Stuttgart shows how big the problem of copper theft is in the region. On the same night as the attempted theft at the Old Church, a resident reported three unknown perpetrators stealing parts of a copper rain pipe nearby. These perpetrators were awakened when they attempted to forcibly tear down the downspout. When they escaped, they were able to take some of the stolen material with them. The suspects are estimated to be between 25 and 30 years old, with two of them slim and one stocky, as ZVW.de reports.
Theft gangs in the region
The extent of copper theft in the region is alarming. A ruling at the Stuttgart Regional Court shows the scaling of such crimes. Six defendants were sentenced to prison terms of between two and two and a half years because they had committed serious gang theft. The value of the stolen material was around 96,500 euros. Between September 2023 and April 2024, these perpetrators were active in several cities, including Leonberg, Pforzheim and Stuttgart. The attacks involved a total of five acts, with two defendants involved in four acts, and the respective damages amounted to 122,000 euros, of which one was not prosecuted due to its low value.
One of the most significant acts took place in Leonberg, where 12 cable drums and an underground cable reel worth a total of 22,200 euros were stolen. Several break-ins in Pforzheim, in which 26 copper rolls and tapes as well as significant amounts of copper cables were stolen, also show how organized these gangs operate. Arrests of the perpetrators took place in Stuttgart in April 2024, using professional tools to carry out the thefts. This illustrates the decisive approach of the group involved, such as the Stuttgart News.
Overall, the situation in Stuttgart remains tense. The frequent thefts of copper and other materials represent not only a financial but also a social problem, as they point to increasing crime and the need for increased security measures.