Hamburg: Bike Theft, Fencing, and Police Action (24Hamburg)

24Hamburg reports on a Hamburg-based bike theft and fencing ring operating in Rothenburgsort and Billstraße. Police uncovered warehouses filled with hundreds of stolen bikes, highlighting the organized nature of the crime. The article describes how bikes are stolen, stored, and then sold or shipped abroad, often to Eastern Europe. Police face difficulties in returning bikes to owners due to lack of registration or identification. The report emphasizes the scale of the problem, the low rate of recovery, and the need for better bike marking and owner documentation. The article also covers police strategies, including targeted raids and public appeals for victims to check recovered bikes.