Swiss Police Share Weirdest Crimes of 2023

The police in Switzerland often make headlines for exciting chases, handling protests, and solving difficult cases. But aside from these serious matters, officers also come across some strange incidents during their patrols. The Cantonal Police of St. Gallen has highlighted the weirdest crime stories in the region for 2023.

1. The Buchs Burglar’s Bizarre Nap

In our first story, we meet the Buchs burglar, a heavily intoxicated man caught stealing from a town store. After a successful escape, he strategically fell asleep on a bench, only to be found and arrested by the police. His night of crime ended with a heavy head and a surprising nap.

2. Cake Bandit Strikes in Oberuzwil

Our next case involves a carjacker with a sweet tooth. Breaking into a car in Oberuzwil, he stumbled upon a cake, enjoying half of it before driving away. St. Gallen police remind everyone not to leave valuables, even pastries, in their cars. The cake bandit is still on the loose.

3. Drunk Driver’s Nap at the Wrong Spot

In another incident, a drunk driver decided to do the partially right thing by pulling over to sleep. However, his choice of location, a police station parking lot, led to his arrest and a revoked driving license. This poor decision matched his level of intoxication.

4. Shredded Paper Scam for a Swiss Watch

Swiss watches are valuable, and thieves get creative. In this case, a man tried to sell his watch for 4,000 francs. Fraudsters used an envelope of shredded paper to deceive him during the transaction, successfully escaping with the pricey timepiece. Thieves – 1, Swiss watches – 0.

5. Last-Minute Shopper Trapped in Haag Store

Our final tale is a nightmare scenario for last-minute shoppers. In November, a man in Haag got locked inside a store after a quick bathroom visit. Desperate, he called the police, who promptly arrived to free him from his unintentional nocturnal confinement. Shopping adventures took an unexpected turn.