German police link Brandenburg cattle thefts to Polish border

From March to May 2026, more than 200 head of cattle were stolen from farms in four districts of Brandenburg, Germany, causing losses estimated at over €330,000. The scale of the crime prompted the Brandenburg state police to create a dedicated investigative unit within the Landeskriminalamt.

The latest incident occurred on the night of 11‑12 May near the village of Schenkendöbern, directly opposite the Polish town of Gubin. Witnesses reported a blue livestock‑transport truck, capable of carrying about 12.5 t, traveling on local roads toward the Polish border. Police suspect the thieves belong to an organized gang that uses drones for farm surveillance and may be exporting the stolen cattle across the border.

Authorities are reviewing traffic‑camera footage, increasing checkpoints on animal‑transport vehicles, and appealing to drivers for any video evidence. The investigation remains ongoing, with the possibility that some of the stolen cattle have already been moved into Poland.