Liberec/Žitava - Fear of crime rise in the German border region sparked by the expansion of the Schengen zone did not prove true.
That is the wording of a Czech, German and Polish police report reviewing one hundred days of the border-free zone between the three countries.
Nevertheless, lifting border checks did not go without problems. German Zittau and Zhořelec has noted the presence of criminal gangs that come from Poland and the Czech Republic.
"The crime rate has decreased in most of the places. The only place we have had problems are in German border towns of Zittau, Zwickau and Zhořelec. But they are of local nature," stated Saxon police chief Berndt Merbitz.
Zhořelec recorded the highest increase of crime rate. During the months of January and February 33 cars were stolen. Meanwhile, last year there were only two cars stolen.
Shoplifting and break-ins have risen considerably, too. Burglars and Czech gangs seem to focus more on Zwittau, while Zhořelec is supposed to be controlled by Polish gangs.
Joint patrols
In these cities joint investigating patrols have been in place to prevent across-border thefts and break-ins. They have already noted the first success.
"In Zhořelec, we have arrested a group of Polish citizens who stole expensive cars. In the following weeks the number of stolen cars has declined," stated police spokesperson in Horní Lužice and Lower Saxon Uwe Horbschk.
"I would like a Czech citizen to see a Saxon police officer working together with a Czech police officer," said Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer.
Border patrols could be organized under joint police stations in the future.
The German side also relies on voluntary support police force called Saxon security.
"These are unarmed foot patrols in the streets of the towns. Their members are citizens from the given town who patrol in their free time. Despite being trained they cannot get involved in anything, they can just call the police," described the force Berndt Merbitz.
The Saxon police has currently 570 voluntary members.
