Munich - Crime
One of the most striking things about Munich is the seeming lack of crime. Car theft is quite uncommon, despite the large numbers of expensive convertibles left parked on the street with their tops down. Many Muenchners seem to think that a steering lock is the ultimate in car protection, if not going a little overboard. We had great difficulty buying such a lock because very few auto or hardware shops stock them! Bicycle theft is also not a great concern. While most bike owners will poke a lock through one of the bike's wheels to immobilise it while parked, less than half the bike owning population bothers to lock their bike to an immovable object, much less disable it by taking off one of the wheels. Detachable bike accesories such as head lamps, quick-release seats, etc are happily left on bikes parked in public places, although some people prefer to remove them for safety.
In all, Munich seems to be a fairly honourable society. Public transport tickets are checked infrequently, and the fine for traveling without a valid ticket is not particularly steep, yet most people purchase the correct ticket. Most pubs and cocktail bars with waiting staff who come to you do not demand payment until the end of the evening, and this honesty system works.
As a female, I feel safe walking around on my own and catching public transport at night.
However, although crime doesn't appear to be a serious problem, remain cautious and trust your common sense. A recent initiative has been brought out for child safety to and from school. Among the many sections emphasising safe behaviour in traffic, there is also a section on being wary of strangers, particularly those who may try to lure children into a car or promise them gifts.
If you witness a crime, or find yourself the victim, call the police on 110.
The Weißer Ring is a society offering support for crime victims and advice on crime prevention. It has several regional offices:
Central
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 227 605
North-east
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 3605 5635
Morth-west
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 841 1362
South-east
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 6150 0690
South-west
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 7494 9892
website: http://www.weisser-ring.de/
