Break-ins into company vehicles have surged dramatically in Östergötland, with 152 of this year's 795 incidents reported in the past month. Police describe the development as having 'exploded out of nowhere' and urge victims not to disturb crime scenes. The issue primarily affects businesses in the region, with Norrköping the hardest hit.
According to police in the Öst region, the number of break-ins and attempted break-ins into company vehicles has skyrocketed this autumn. Of the total 795 reported incidents in work vehicles this year, 152 occurred between October 1 and November 4. The trend is most pronounced in Östergötland, where an average of three cases are reported daily—totaling 103 incidents during the period.
Compared to neighboring counties, Östergötland stands out: Södermanland reports one case per day (36 incidents), while Jönköping has one every three days (13 incidents). Within Östergötland, the distribution is uneven, with 51 cases in Norrköping, 30 in Linköping, and 11 in Motala. Smaller towns like Boxholm (3), Valdemarsvik (4), and Ödeshög (2) are also affected, while Mjölby and Söderköping each have one case.
In mid-October, several company vehicles were damaged in places including Motala. An anonymous affected business owner says: 'It is very unfortunate because one loses income, and it means a cost for repairs.' Police, represented by crime analyst Andreas Jönsson, urge the public: 'Try to leave the crime scene untouched. Do not clean or rummage. An inventory list can be made after a patrol has been on site.'
Police note that the crimes occur everywhere in the region and urge businesses to stay vigilant. The reason for the sudden increase is unclear, but police are working intensively on analysis and preventive measures.