The number of thefts from cars is increasing in Luxembourg, and a test carried out in a car park in Roodt-sur-Syre shows how easily criminals can sometimes find their work already done for them.
According to recent police statistics, some 3,900 vehicle break-ins were reported in 2025, representing an increase of around 3.3% compared to the previous year.
But just how easy is it to get into a car?
To find out, our colleagues from RTL.lu conducted a test in the Cactus car park in Roodt-sur-Syre. Reporters deliberately attempted to open car doors to see whether the vehicles were locked.
Patrick Linster from the Police Crime Prevention Service explained that the initiative – coordinated in advance with Cactus and carried out with police present during filming – aims to raise public awareness. The phenomenon of simple thefts from vehicles has increased significantly over the last two years, he said, and the authorities want to encourage motorists to always lock their cars systematically in all car parks.
The result: vehicles were still found unlocked or with windows not completely closed.
For Linster, this is a well-known problem. In many cases, criminals do not need to make much effort. "In fact, we are almost always dealing with simple theft because, in principle, nothing is damaged," he said.
In practical terms, this means that if a car is not locked, it can be opened quite easily. If a window is not completely closed, it can be pushed down. Alternatively, theft can be committed directly through an open window.
The police emphasise that these are often opportunistic crimes: an unlocked car or an open window makes the task extremely easy for individuals with malicious intent.
Linster noted that people sometimes feel confident that because they can see their car, they do not need to lock it. However, the police are spreading the message that even at home, vehicles must be locked systematically.
According to Linster, the same issue frequently occurs at petrol stations, where some people do not lock their cars because they only step inside briefly to pay. "But sometimes things can still go wrong", he warned.
The essential advice remains unchanged: always lock your car – even if you are only away for a short time – and do not leave any valuables inside the vehicle.
