Kassel/Friedrichsdorf (dpa/lhe) - According to the state authority Hessen Forst, more and more wood has recently been stolen from the Hessian forests. Although no specific figures were collected, the wood theft had increased noticeably as a result of the rise in energy prices, said the spokeswoman for the state authority, Michelle Sundermann, in Kassel. Not only processed wood is stolen, but also trunks four to five meters long. "This is only possible with the appropriate device, which not everyone has," said Sundermann.
It is stolen both during the day and at night, especially in forests near the highway. "We check every removal certificate and report every theft of our wood that we learn about," explained Sundermann. "But we can't be everywhere all the time."
That's why Hessen Forst uses GPS trackers to track down the wood thieves. The satellite-based surveillance technology has been in use in the federal state since 2012. The tracker is unobtrusively attached to the pieces of wood. "As soon as the wood starts to move, it sends a warning SMS to the district management. With the help of the GPS signals, the forest rangers can then track on the computer exactly whether a trunk is taking the planned route to the sawmill or is being illegally transported away." , explained the spokeswoman. In the event of theft, the stolen wood can be located. "We've already caught a few thieves with it."
The Hessian Forest Owners Association also reports an increase in timber thefts. In the case of private individuals, there is often no sense of wrongdoing, said Managing Director Christian Raupach. "In the same way, there is a corresponding criminal energy among individuals in the wood industry to simply load up a batch and drive away."
