In Prague, the detection rate for home burglaries has become alarmingly low, with only 12 cases being solved for every 88 where the criminal remains unidentified.
This makes Prague the worst city in the Czech Republic when it comes to solving burglaries. For comparison, regions like Ústí nad Labem and Moravian-Silesian have detection rates of 44.9% and 44%, respectively, more than three times higher than in the capital.
One recent burglary case demonstrates the extent of the challenges facing the Prague police. The crime scene was only photographed using a mobile phone, fingerprints were not collected, and a month later, the police informed the victim that the criminal had not been found. The thief had attempted to use a stolen credit card on a tram, which was equipped with cameras, but before the police could obtain the footage, the transport company deleted it.
Miloslav, a Prague resident near Wenceslas Square, shared his frustration after his home was robbed on February 4. “This week, I received a letter from the police stating that they were unable to find the criminal,” he explained. The thief entered through a poorly closed door while the family slept, but fortunately, Miloslav had been sleeping in the living room, so the burglar did not notice him.
The thief caused damage worth 25,000 to 30,000 CZK, stealing a wallet with vacation savings, headphones, and a backpack. Inside the backpack were additional items, including another wallet, which the thief discarded on leaving. The discarded backpack was left behind in a way that could have easily contained fingerprints.
Upon discovering the burglary, Miloslav immediately took action by blocking his credit cards, reporting the theft to the police, and filing an official report. However, the police response was limited to taking photos on a mobile phone. After this, the case seemed to stall.
