Investigation Underway as Massive Ammunition Heist Strikes Germany

Tue Dec 02 2025 20:25:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Authorities are investigating the theft of about 20,000 rounds of ammunition stolen from a delivery truck in Germany, raising security concerns.

A large shipment of German ammunition, estimated to be around 20,000 rounds, was stolen from a delivery truck in Burg, Germany. The theft occurred when the driver left the truck unguarded overnight, prompting an investigation by military and police officials. This incident has drawn attention to previous similar occurrences in the region and raised alarms regarding the security of military supplies.

A shipment of German ammunition has been stolen from a delivery lorry in the eastern town of Burg, according to Germany's defence ministry.

While officials did not specify the total amount taken, sources from the weekly magazine Der Spiegel estimate it to be close to 20,000 rounds.

The theft reportedly occurred when the driver of a civilian transport company, contracted by the military, left the truck in an unguarded parking lot overnight on November 25.

Upon delivery to the nearby Clausewitz Barracks, officials discovered the ammunition was missing. An investigation has been launched by military authorities in conjunction with local police.

Der Spiegel and other German outlets indicated that the shipment included approximately 10,000 rounds of live ammunition for handguns, 9,900 rounds of blank ammunition for assault rifles, and smoke grenades.

So far, there have been no arrests associated with the incident, which has raised serious security concerns over who could obtain the stolen supplies. We take the theft very seriously - this kind of ammunition must not fall into the wrong hands, stated the defence ministry to German media.

Questions have arisen regarding the driver’s decision to stop in an unguarded location, especially since authorities have reported there is a special hotline available for drivers needing assistance, and military escorts can be assigned if necessary.

The driver reportedly left the vehicle in the unattended lot and spent the night at a nearby hotel.

This incident marks the latest in a series of similar thefts in the Saxony-Anhalt region, as local police previously reported 90 rounds missing in Bernburg and another 180 rounds in Eisleben over the past few months. However, no connections have been established between these cases.