Leer: Several drug-impaired drivers stopped

In its weekend press release, the Leer/Emden police inspectorate reports on several operations that illustrate the broad range of police work in the region. In addition to burglary offences, two traffic controls in particular drew attention, in which drivers were allegedly driving under the influence of narcotics. The overall picture: attempted break-ins that failed, a completed residential burglary, driving without a valid licence and two journeys under the influence of drugs. In Moormerland, an attempted break-in at a butcher’s shop on Westerwieke occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning. At around 2:51 a.m., the business’s alarm system was triggered, and a patrol car was immediately dispatched. On arrival, the officers initially found no obvious irregularities. Only when the 59-year-old owner from Moormerland arrived and inspected the premises together with the officers did it become clear that an unknown perpetrator had tampered with the access points. Thanks to the rapid intervention and the alarm, the crime remained at the attempt stage and an actual break-in was prevented. A few hours earlier, the police had already been called to a completed burglary in a single-family home on Dorfstraße in Leer. On Saturday at around 2:10 p.m., the residents discovered after returning home that unknown perpetrators had entered the house while they were away. The 23-year-old daughter of the owners noticed damage to a pane of glass that the intruder had smashed using an axe found on the property. The entire house was then searched for valuables. According to current investigations, the burglar stole around 350 euros in cash. The police have secured traces and are asking the public for information that could help identify the perpetrator. The officers devote particular attention in their report to two traffic incidents in which drugs play a decisive role. On Saturday evening at around 7:20 p.m., a patrol car was driving along Hajo-Unken-Straße in the direction of Ubbo-Emmius-Straße in Leer when a car approached from the opposite direction. The officers turned to check the vehicle and soon found it parked at the roadside with its hazard warning lights on. It was striking that the man previously seen at the wheel was now sitting in the passenger seat. During the subsequent check, it emerged that the driver was a 29-year-old man from Leer who was already known to the police. The inspection also revealed that he did not hold a valid driving licence. Even more serious was the suspicion that he was under the influence of narcotics. Based on clear physical signs and the justified suspicion, the 29-year-old was taken to the station, where a blood sample was taken. The laboratory analysis is intended to provide precise proof of the substance involved and will form part of the criminal proceedings initiated. Because the man was not the registered owner of the car, an additional criminal allegation is directed at the 42-year-old vehicle owner. She now also faces proceedings for allegedly allowing a man without a driving licence to operate her vehicle. The combination of driving without a licence, suspected drug use and the responsibilities of the vehicle owner illustrates how complex such traffic situations can be from a police perspective. Only about an hour later, another case of driving under the influence of drugs was detected. At around 8:30 p.m., a patrol noticed an Audi with Polish licence plates driving out of town along Hauptstraße in Leer. During a routine traffic control, officers observed physical signs in the 30-year-old driver from Wilhelmshaven that clearly indicated possible impairment by narcotics. A roadside drug test was carried out and returned a positive result for the substance amphetamine. In this case as well, the man was taken to the station for a blood sample to secure evidence. His journey was prohibited in order to prevent any danger to other road users. With the positive preliminary test and the pending laboratory analysis, the driver is likely to face significant consequences – from fines and driving bans to criminal penalties, depending on the exact substance and concentration detected. The Leer/Emden police inspectorate uses the press release to once again highlight the considerable dangers of driving under the influence of drugs. Narcotics impair perception, reaction time and risk assessment and significantly increase the likelihood of accidents. In combination with the absence of a driving licence or risky driving behaviour, situations can arise that have serious consequences not only for those directly involved but also for uninvolved road users. Regular controls, consistent blood sampling and the initiation of appropriate proceedings are intended to make it clear that such offences will not be tolerated. At the same time, the police continue to work on solving the property offences in Moormerland and Leer. Information from the public can play a key role in identifying patterns of crime, bringing perpetrators to justice and preventing further break-ins. The interplay of visible patrol presence, targeted road traffic controls and close cooperation with citizens is a central pillar of the security strategy in the Leer/Emden region.