Crime wave and traffic chaos strike Germany’s Main-Kinzig district in one week
A series of incidents across the Main-Kinzig district has left authorities investigating multiple crimes and accidents. Over the past week, police reported a fraud targeting an elderly couple, several traffic collisions, and cases of theft and vandalism. Witnesses are being sought in connection with some of the events.
On January 2, 2026, an elderly couple in Steinau an der Straße fell victim to a scam involving fake bank employees. The fraudsters convinced the victims to hand over their bank cards and PINs, then withdrew cash from their account. Police are searching for a short, dark-haired suspect wearing a white sweater, last seen in the area between 11 AM and 12 PM that day. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kriminalpolizei at 06181 100-123.
On the Autobahn 66 near Schlüchtern, a semi-trailer truck overturned and caught fire on the Frankfurt-bound lanes. The crash caused around €120,000 in damages and left the driver injured. In a separate incident on the same motorway near Steinau an der Straße, another semi-trailer struck a guardrail on the Fulda-bound side. This collision caused unknown damages, but the driver escaped unharmed. A head-on crash between a Seat and a Ford Kuga on L 3008 in Schöneck resulted in three people suffering minor injuries. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. Meanwhile, in Birstein, an 18-year-old driver lost control of his Opel Corsa on B 276, causing the car to roll over. All four occupants were injured in the accident. In Maintal, unknown individuals used pyrotechnics to break into a cigarette vending machine at the corner of Leuschnerstraße and Limesstraße. The attack caused approximately €5,500 in damages, with cigarettes worth around €2,000 stolen. Elsewhere, a gray BMW 5 Series parked at a fitness studio in Industriestraße, Langenselbold, was damaged by an unknown motorist, resulting in around €1,000 in repairs. Police also reported the theft of license plates from a blue Opel Corsa in Schweriner Straße, Hanau, between December 25 and 29.
Authorities continue to investigate the incidents, including the fraud case in Steinau an der Straße, where witnesses may hold crucial details. The accidents on Autobahn 66 and local roads have prompted reminders about road safety. Meanwhile, the thefts and vandalism in Maintal, Langenselbold, and Hanau remain under active police review.
