Since mid-December, the police in Berlin have registered an increasing number of burglaries in which, according to initial findings, concentrated nitric acid was used to decompose door locks. The investigations into the 31 crimes registered so far are ongoing and are being carried out by the responsible burglary departments, as the police announced on Tuesday.

Those affected were called upon to inform the police immediately if unknown liquids were found and to keep away from damaged areas. Even gloves did not provide sufficient protection against the highly corrosive and respiratory tract irritant substance. According to the current status, neither the injured nor the emergency services have suffered any injuries. Depending on the material of the lock, the fabric is transparent to yellow, green or brownish.

Press release tweet police