German police are investigating three Ukrainian nationals suspected of taking between 200 and 300 kilograms of fodder corn from a field in Essen. A witness spotted the group and recorded the license plate of their car.
The incident occurred on the evening of August 9 at a cornfield near Rodenseelstraße and Hochfeldstraße in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.
At around 9:30 p.m., a witness saw three people taking corn from the field and loading it into a grey Ford Focus. The witness recorded the car’s license plate and contacted police.
Officers traced the vehicle to Meistersingerstraße. Two women inside the car attempted to flee on foot after noticing the police but were caught after a short distance.
The women initially provided false information about their identities. Police later found identification documents and identified them as Ukrainian nationals aged 42 and 50, both residents of Essen.
The third suspect was identified as a 55-year-old Essen resident who is also a Ukrainian citizen.
Police found the trunk and folded rear-seat area of the Ford packed with corn. The farmer arrived with a tractor and weighing equipment. The stolen crop weighed between 200 and 300 kilograms.
The corn was intended for animal feed and had not yet fully ripened. According to the report, it could no longer be used as feed after being harvested prematurely.
Police are investigating all three suspects for theft. The two women also face allegations of providing false personal information.
Source: Essen/Mülheim an der Ruhr Police.
