Which German City Has the Most Burglaries?

Key Takeaways

• Mülheim an der Ruhr and most of the 20 large German cities with the highest residential burglary rates are in the crowded Rhine-Ruhr area. Many burglars break into homes near where they live, so crowded areas give them more homes to choose from.
• In 2025, 46.4% of home break-ins in 80 large German cities failed. Locks and other security devices on doors and windows keep many burglars from getting inside, which is one reason so many attempts fail.
• Your city’s residential burglary rate shows how often burglars try to break in, not whether they will get into your home.

German Cities With the Highest Residential Burglary Rates

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

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Learn something new about Germany every week and make informed decisions with confidence.

Residential Burglary Rates in German Cities Are Highest Along the Rhine and Ruhr

Mülheim an der Ruhr has the highest residential burglary rate among 80 large German cities. Residential burglary means breaking into a home to steal. Mülheim recorded 331 home break-ins for every 100,000 residents.

Most of the 20 German cities with the highest residential burglary rates are close together along the Rhine and Ruhr rivers in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Location matters because many burglars break into homes near where they live. A nearby home means they do not have to run far or carry stolen goods for long.

Millions of people live close together in the Rhine-Ruhr area. That puts many homes within easy reach of burglars.

By contrast, less crowded parts of North Rhine-Westphalia have much lower residential burglary rates. Bielefeld is in the state’s more rural east. It recorded 83 home break-ins per 100,000 residents, while Mülheim recorded 331.

Almost Half of Residential Burglaries in German Cities Fail

Where a home is located is only part of the burglary story. How well a home is secured also affects whether a break-in succeeds.

A failed residential burglary attempt means a burglar tried to break into a home but did not complete the crime. In 2025, 46.4% of recorded home break-ins in the 80 large German cities ended as failed residential burglary attempts.

Burglars often break in through front doors, windows, and basement windows. Poorly secured doors and windows can be forced open within seconds.

Security devices on doors and windows make them much harder to force open. This is one reason so many break-ins in the 80 large German cities end as failed residential burglary attempts. Alert neighbors can also stop a residential burglary by noticing something unusual.

Where you live in Germany affects how likely a burglar is to try to break into your home. How well you secure your doors and windows affects whether the burglar gets inside.