Every criminal offence is a shock for those who experience it. Statistics can say almost nothing about the suffering experienced and yet they are often used to categorise how "dangerous" or "unsafe" a city is. In Rodgau, 120 fewer offences were committed in 2024 compared to 2023. The number of young suspects up to the age of 18 increased and the number of adults aged 21 and over decreased. Offences against sexual self-determination, offences involving violence and other criminal offences have increased slightly. Offences against life, simple theft and aggravated theft, which also includes burglary, have decreased, as have offences against property and forgery and offences against secondary criminal laws. The latter include, for example, offences under the Narcotics Act, the Animal Protection Act and the Administrative Offences Act. A total of 1688 offences were committed by 791 suspects. This is 51 fewer than in 2023 and the clearance rate was 53.1 per cent. Overall, the development in Rodgau matches that of the Offenbach district. Here, too, the overall crime rate fell by 7.4 per cent. In the district, 56.4 per cent of cases were solved. The crime statistics are used to monitor the development of crime and can provide clues for preventative measures. "People in Rodgau live very safely," says Marc Heinl, head of the police station in Heusenstamm. Statistics alone do not say much without comparison. In recent years, the so-called frequency figure (HZ), which provides information about the number of criminal offences per 100,000 inhabitants, has been at a very low level in Rodgau with 3616 criminal offences. In the district of Offenbach, only the municipalities of Mainhausen, Rödermark and Hainburg have slightly lower figures. By way of comparison, the average crime rate in Hesse in 2024 was 6046 offences per 100,000 inhabitants.
Rodgau is one of the fastest growing towns in the eastern district thanks to its designated new development areas. New residents, young families, but also older people are moving here. The biggest challenge here is the anonymity compared to the old town centres and residential areas with neighbourhood structures that have grown over the years. According to Marc Heinl, if you know your neighbourhood, it is easier to recognise strangers and report any special incidents or even criminal offences to the police. Neighbourhood projects, joint events and street parties can quickly overcome anonymity and make the neighbourhood better known. In addition to attentive neighbours, it is also possible to deter potential criminals by making structural changes to their house or flat. This does not mean "the fortress", but simple things such as lighting, movable shutters, emptied letterboxes or lockable windows. If you have any questions about this, the criminal police advice centre of the South East Hesse Police Headquarters can provide you with help and advice. Crime statistics show that "grand theft" and "property and forgery offences" occur most frequently in Rodgau. Aggravated theft is not always burglary. Aggravated theft is when an object is specially secured against removal. This can be a locked home, but also a locked vehicle or a locked bicycle or scooter. Property theft and forgery offences are thefts and fraud taken as a whole. Here the offence usually takes place on the Internet and/or on the telephone. In addition to the "false police officer" and the "grandchild trick", this also includes order and service fraud, a group of offences that is very popular with criminals because they can operate anonymously on the Internet. But here, too, you can protect yourself even better if you are vigilant and well informed. "Don't give out your account details to third parties lightly, take care of your privacy. I think the majority of Rodgau citizens already take this to heart. At least the statistics speak for themselves," says the head of the police station. It is very important to let "common sense" work. This includes, for example, not leaving any valuables in the car or house or not letting strangers into the house so easily. If a caller pretends to be an employee of the police or public prosecutor's office, no information about their own assets should or must be given. "Real public officials" would not ask any of these questions on the phone. If a family member is in distress abroad or on a business trip, nobody will ask for bail over the phone. "Hang up and report the incident to the police via the official line you know or by dialling 110," advises Marc Heinl.