No mouth robbery: police hunt organized wild garlic thieves

On bike, on horseback or even in civilian clothes: the police are once again on the lookout for wild garlic thieves in Leipzig's forests. "The perpetrators come from all over Germany to take wild garlic from the alluvial forest," said Mario Luda, head of Leipzig's south-east police station. In doing so, they not only pull out the bulbs, but also endanger the sensitive ecosystem.

This February, two groups have already been caught digging up more than 40 kilograms of wild garlic bulbs each and making them available for removal. However, there are strict rules for collecting the plant. One bunch per person is permitted. If you are in a nature reserve, even one leaf picked is too many. The Federal Nature Conservation Act applies there.

Police: wild garlic is not a protected plant

The police now roam the riparian forest by bike, in civilian clothes and even on horseback. According to Luda, the officers on horseback have a good overview due to their high seat and can also penetrate rough terrain and call for reinforcements if necessary.

According to the police, the root tubers are most frequently dug up. They are considered a delicacy in Eastern Europe and are also said to have medicinal properties. "Wild garlic is not a protected plant," emphasized police spokesman Olaf Hoppe. It is usually an administrative offense if more than one bunch is taken by hand. "It only becomes a criminal offense when the plants are dug up and specially protected plants are removed."

85 suspects identified so far

According to him, theft has increased enormously in recent years. The perpetrators have taken up to one tonne of tubers and leaves from the Leipzig forests. 85 suspects have been identified. They drive their cars into the small paths of the alluvial forest, remove the plants and drive away again, as Hoppe explained. As the area is so large, the police are also reliant on the help of the local population.

Resident Nikolaus Ihms is often out and about in the riparian forest with his dog and bike and wants to inform the police in future if he observes thieves. "That shouldn't happen, it's our nature." He himself has also plucked a few leaves and mixed them with butter. "It's fine for stealing by mouth, but not for cannibalizing the forests," he emphasized.