The total number of burglaries or attempted burglaries where so-called saltpeter acid has been used is currently 52. No one has been arrested or is reasonably suspected in the case, but the police say they have a better understanding of the situation.
I would say that we have a pretty good idea of who is behind this series. It's about a foreign theft gang, says Monica Krüger.
Awaiting Analysis
In the investigation, the Stockholm police have collaborated with Europol since it became clear that it was a comprehensive tour and that the burglary method has been used in several European countries before.
We have a hope that we will at least be able to prosecute some. We have had daily contact with Europol and they are also taking this very seriously since they see that this is something that affects several countries in Europe. Now we are mainly waiting for analysis from the technical tracks that have been secured, says Krüger.
Since the weekend of July 13-14, when a series of burglaries occurred on Kungsholmen in Stockholm, there have been no new reports of burglaries using acid.
However, the burglary attempts have not completely stopped. During the following weeks, reports came in about markings in stairwells. The markings are a form of string between the door and doorpost that is supposed to indicate whether someone is at home or not, where an unbroken string means that the door has not been opened.
Vigilant Public
We can't say for sure, but it seems like that's the method they've used to know who's been at home or not. Lately, the public has been so vigilant and has taken down the markings themselves.
Most burglaries have occurred when people have been away for several days. Therefore, Krüger thinks that one should continue to be vigilant if one is going to travel during the holiday season.
Please ask a neighbor to keep an extra eye out for markings or just be generally vigilant about who's moving around in the stairwell. If you have multiple locks, it's good to lock them all, she says.
The burglaries have been concentrated to the Stockholm area, and the police have not seen the perpetrators targeting anything other than apartments. Monica Krüger's appeal is to contact the police if you see a marking.
