Neukalen (dpa/mv) – Thieves in Neukalen (Mecklenburg Lake District) have stocked up against a possible gas shortage in a criminal manner. As a police spokeswoman said on Monday in Neubrandenburg, the perpetrators stole twelve metal bottles with propane gas. The theft is said to have occurred on the night of September 23 in an industrial area in the north of the small town on Lake Kummerow and on Landesstraße 20.

According to previous investigations, ten-liter bottles with the liquid gas were mainly stolen, which were in a locked box at a drinks market. The damage is estimated at a four-digit sum.

It was not the first case of this kind in Neukalen: a year ago, unknown persons stole a number of 20-liter bottles of propane gas from a gas station on Friday night. And shortly afterwards, several full gas cylinders were also lost in neighboring Dargun. Both cases are unsolved.

Propane gas is primarily used when camping or on boats for cooking. Sometimes the gas is also used for heating with radiant heaters.