Berlin, February 7 – A police service weapon, which had been reported stolen 15 years ago, was recovered yesterday during an apartment search in Hakenfelde, a district of Spandau. The search was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected pharmaceutical drug trafficking.
Investigation Leads to Discovery of Stolen Firearm
The operation began when plainclothes officers became aware of a suspicious vehicle in Parkstraße at the corner of Neuendorfer Straße. An unknown man approached the driver’s window and then quickly left the scene. Upon checking the 26-year-old driver, officers found several prescription medications, animal repellent spray, a telescopic baton, a four-digit sum of cash, and multiple mobile phones during a voluntary search of his car.
Based on a judicial order, police officers then searched the suspect’s apartment at approximately 3:30 PM. Inside, they discovered additional substances suspected to be pharmaceutical drugs, as well as a loaded handgun. A subsequent check of the firearm confirmed it to be a police service weapon that had been stolen 15 years prior during a residential burglary.
Suspect Released, Investigation Continues
The 26-year-old suspect was taken into police custody for identification procedures and subsequently released. Further investigations have been taken over by a specialized department of the State Criminal Police Office. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the original theft of the weapon or how it came into the suspect’s possession.
Other Incidents Reported Across Berlin
In other news from yesterday, a tow truck caught fire in Moabit (Mitte) on Sickingenstraße. Firefighters were on the scene, and initial reports indicated no injuries. In Oder-Spree, a snow-clearing operation escalated into a violent dispute between neighbors, resulting in one person being injured with a machete. In Staaken (Spandau), a 23-year-old driver lost control of his car, colliding with parked vehicles and a residential building. The driver sustained a head injury, and his 22-year-old passenger was hospitalized with a suspected pelvic fracture. Drugs were found in the vehicle, and the driver is under investigation for suspected drunk driving and illegal street racing.
An 18-year-old was injured with a knife on an S-Bahn train at Treptower Park station. Federal police are investigating the incident as a dangerous bodily harm case and are seeking witnesses. In Hellersdorf, a man was seriously injured in a knife attack after an altercation at a gambling arcade. Further investigations are underway to determine the background of the incident. Furthermore, two men were arrested in Berlin-Spandau after a 13-year-old boy reported his luggage stolen from an IC train in Hanover. The suspects were found to be in possession of several stolen luggage items and were brought before a remand judge.
Icy conditions across Berlin led to a significant increase in traffic accidents yesterday morning, with 42 accidents reported between 6 AM and 8 AM, compared to 27 in the same period a week prior. Fortunately, most injuries were minor. In Märkisch-Oderland, a 43-year-old homeowner was seriously injured while attempting to extinguish a fire at his house in Bad Freienwalde (Oder). His wife and child were also hospitalized for suspected smoke inhalation. In Karstädt (Prignitz), a deceased person was found in a house after a fire. In Neustadt/Dosse (Ostprignitz-Ruppin), an 82-year-old woman died in a head-on collision after losing control of her car on icy roads. Lastly, federal police arrested a 38-year-old Albanian national near Frankfurt (Oder) who was wanted on an international arrest warrant by Belgian authorities for attempted manslaughter.
Source: https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article411095929/polizei-feuerwehr-news-aktuell-berlin-6-februar-kofferdiebe-festnahme.html
