– People are afraid. There are many who do not dare to be alone at home, says Kim Havnes Solvang.
He is one of many who have been subjected to theft in Kragerø in recent months.
Kim Solvang says many people are scared in Kragerø after several months of burglaries and thefts almost daily.
Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / NRK
Several of the inhabitants of the small town have acquired surveillance cameras to document what happens at night.
NRK has been able to see several recordings that show thieves sneaking around the houses, looking in windows and grabbing door handles.
They also get into houses, cars, sheds and garages.
Warning summer tourists
– I have never experienced anything like this in my career. It is an unsustainable situation, says police station chief in Kragerø Øystein Skottmyr.
Police station chief Øystein Skottmyr in Kragerø has never before in his career experienced so many thefts and break-ins as in the past six months.
Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / NRK
He has worked in the Police since 1977.
The police have a good overview of those who steal, and have arrested them many times.
– When we release them, they commit new offences. It is difficult, says Skottmyr.
In the summer, the population of the small town increases fivefold. Around 50,000 tourists are estimated to holiday in Kragerø during the summer.
Skottmyr encourages both permanent residents and tourists to take extra care of their belongings.
– This is going on around the clock, it’s 24-7, says the police station chief.
– Lock things up, and do not leave valuables loose outside the house or cabin. And putting a case of wine in the boat is asking for trouble. Alcohol is very interesting for these thieves, says Skottmyr in the police.
Unique situation
Trond Kyrre Simensen is a police chief at the police college, and teaches preventive policing.
He describes the situation in Kragerø as special.
– That this is allowed to go on for such a long time with known perpetrators is very special, and not something I have heard of in Norway before, says Simensen.
Run out in your underpants
NRK has been in contact with over 20 people who have been victims of theft or burglary.
Several of them will not come forward with their name and photo because they are afraid.
– I woke up in the night and heard something outside. Then I saw two guys take tools out of my car. They collected it in a big bag. I ran out in my underpants and screamed at them, then they ran, says Armand Lusis.
Armand Lusis caught thieves in the act when they stole tools from his car at night.
Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / NRK
He works on a property in one of the areas that has been subject to many thefts.
He says he has worked a lot in other places in Norway, but has never previously been bothered by something like this.
– Frustrating
On the streets of Kragerø, all the thefts have become the talk of the town. “Everyone” is familiar with the situation that has escalated over the past six months.
Several have had unauthorized persons close to the house walls.
– There is a lot of fear out there now. People are anxious about what will happen when they go to bed at night, says Stian Størseth.
Stian Størseth has worked in a sports shop in Kragerø for 35 years. During that time, he has had a total of three burglaries, two of them in the last month.
Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / NRK
He runs Sport 1 Kragerø and has himself been the victim of burglaries twice in the past few months.
It is more than he has experienced in 35 years in the sports shop in Kragerø.
– Now it’s completely wild, says Størseth.
He had 10 bicycles stolen from the shop in central Kragerø. The bikes had a total value of NOK 380,000.
The shop owner has still not been given a full overview of the valuables that were lost in the break-in.
– I have good documentation of who was here. I also recognize them from the surveillance video. It is frustrating that this just continues, says Størseth.
Thieves have stolen a GPS from Per Kristian Nilsen’s boat. A total of 20 boats in the same marina have been subject to break-ins in recent weeks. – They have turned the entire boat upside down in search of valuables. It will be a big job to get things sorted out in here, says Nilsen.
Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / NRK
– Unfortunately, our ports have been exposed to a number of thefts in recent weeks. There has been a lot of activity with many minor thefts, says harbor officer Svein Arne Walle.
An unauthorized person has also been inside a service building in the marina and destroyed it.
Challenging for the police
According to the police, it is a small group of around 10 people from a drug scene who steal and commit burglaries.
– So far, we have not been able to stop them. But we will do what we can to solve this, says the police station chief in Kragerø.
The police have collaborated with the municipality to stop all crime.
– The municipality has no other options. So now we want to remand and try these cases in court, says Skottmyr.
The police have several times taken axes and knives from those who commit burglaries and thefts.
This ax was left on the railing just outside the house after a garage break-in in Kragerø
Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / NRK
Nevertheless, the police station chief does not believe that the gang that commits burglaries and thefts is dangerous.
– No, they are not dangerous. So far, they have not used violence. But it is still important that people call the police for help. Don’t intervene on your own, he says.
– I disagree with the fact that they are harmless, it is scary with these people who tend to be drunk, and in addition, they go around with knives and axes. It can be dangerous, says Kim Havnes Solvang.
Tags: Worst wave thefts years afraid NRK Vestfold Telemark Local news radio
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