The German Barrier Model

The German barrier model adopts a stepwise method encompassing Entry, Stay, Infrastructure, Crime, Storage, Transport and Trade, and Profit steps. Challenges involve the unrestricted movement of criminals within the Schengen area and the necessity for more intensive international police collaboration. The model emphasises enhanced tracking and identification techniques and promotes marking car parts as a barrier in the Profit phase to diminish their market value.

Click the “+” symbol for more information on each step. Explore the detailed insights in our report to learn more about the barrier model.

ENTRY
  1. Many actors are legally in Germany
  2. Open border to all nine neighboring countries
  3. Millions of cars cross the national borders daily
  1. Visible display of car theft tools
  2. Cars of certain foreign car rentals
  3. Information exchange with law enforcement

Society

International law enforcement

International police cooperation

STAY
  1. Many actors legally reside or stay for shorter periods of time in Germany
  2. Proximity to international borders

N/A

  1. Support infrastructure in Germany (Residenten)
  2. Organisers living legally in Germany
  3. Hostels, pensions

International law enforcement

  1. International police cooperation
  2. Unwanted controls
INFRASTRUCTURE
  1. Road and motorway infrastructure
  2. Oversea ports
  3. Larger and anonymous parking lots

High value vehicles in particular parking spaces that thieves prefer for the cool-off stage

The German public

N/A

  1. Surveillance
  2. Controls
CRIME
  1. Availability of a large number of desirable cars
  2. Theft security vulnerabilities
  3. Availability of affordable theft tools
  1. Visible display of car theft tools
  2. High-value vehicles in particular parking spaces that thieves prefer for the cool-off stage
  1. Politicians
  2. Manufacturers
  3. Insurers
  1. Manufacturers
  2. Insurers
  3. Registration (Dekra, TÜV)
  4. Kraftfahrtbundesamt
  5. Workshops/garages/mechanics
  6. Traders
  7. Rating institutes
  8. Automobile clubs
  1. Secure storage of cars
  2. Improved anti-theft technology
  3. Shitstorms
  4. Individual serial numbers
  5. Specialised police units for Automotive IT on federal and state levels
  6. Inter-/national police cooperations (databases) (Vertrauenspersonen, Mittelsmänner)
  7. Broad knowledge exchange with all stakeholders
  8. Ratings of anti-theft technology in new models
  9. Surveillance
  10. Religious holidays
  11. Insurance
  12. Surveillance
STORAGE
  1. Larger and anonymous parking lots
  2. Garages
  1. High-value vehicles in particular parking spaces that thieves prefer for the cool-off stage
  2. Former facilities of the Red Army
  1. The public
  2. Lessors of garages

N/A

  1. Surveillance (unwanted)
  2. Tracking
TRANSPORT
  1. Road and motorway infrastructure
  2. Oversea ports
  1. Damaged door locks or a smashed side window
  2. Running engine during a traffic stop or when refueling
  3. Driver and vehicle do not seem to match

Shipping companies

  1. Harbour police and water police
  2. Frontex
  3. International law enforcement
  1. Inter-/national police cooperations
  2. Surveillance
  3. More traffic and police controls
  4. More automated number plate recognition and camera surveillance
  5. Radio cell analyses and other forms of surveillance of telecommunications
  6. Relaxation of data protection
  7. Researchable serial numbers on car parts
  8. Controls at oversea harbours
PROFIT
  1. There is demand, there is a market
  2. Demand for car parts
  3. Original car parts expensive

Hawala banking

  1. Online platforms like eBay, Allegro, and Alibaba
  2. Financial agents

N/A

  1. Longer life expectancy of car parts
  2. Affordable original spare parts
  3. Researchable serial numbers on car parts