Hmmmmmmmm! A young family member asked me why this isn't getting more coverage

[DFW]

34. Here, it's almost the opposite

There was a huge article in the paper over the weekend about how an immense crime clan from Lebanon established itself here 35 years ago, first in Berlin, but then way beyond. They planned and executed a robbery of priceless (estimated $100 million) jewels from a museum in Dresden. They were registered months before as buying huge exotic construction equipment that can only be used for cutting through 4 foot steel, etc. etc. and though none of them is in the construction business, law enforcement ignored it. When some of the thieves made a very unsophisticated attempt to sell some of the loot, some of them got caught. They made a deal with the German authorities that they'd give back some of the loot if they didn't have to testify against other members of the clan, and then were given wrist-slap sentences (2½ years or less, some suspended or on probation). Theft in Germany, no matter how huge, is, in essence, not considered a criminal offense, but rather a nuisance (cops hate filling out forms), unless firearms are used. If your wallet, your luggage, your money, your possessions in your house or even your ID is stolen, officialdom here doesn't care and doesn't want to know. On the other hand, underpay your taxes by €5, or bring in €450 of merchandise from abroad (€430 is the limit without declaring), and you had better get yourself a really sharp defense attorney.