Jena-Wenigenjena, 12.03.2026 – A resident of the Jena district of Wenigenjena experienced a nasty surprise on Wednesday morning: her car was stolen overnight without a trace. The police have launched an investigation and are searching for the stolen electric vehicle.
- What: Car theft (Hyundai IONIQ 5)
- When: Wednesday, between 03:15 and 07:15
- Where: Residential address in the district of Wenigenjena
- Who: Currently unknown perpetrators; the victim is a 50-year-old resident
Car disappeared in the early morning hours
On Wednesday morning, the 50-year-old owner reported the loss of her vehicle to the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena. The car, a Hyundai IONIQ 5, had been parked normally in front of the woman’s residential address the previous evening. The following morning, she noticed the vehicle was missing.
The responding officers first checked all current official towing operations in the city area to rule out incorrect parking and a resulting relocation of the car as the cause. After this was not confirmed, the theft was officially recorded. According to the current state of the investigation, the unknown perpetrators struck within a narrow window between 03:15 and 07:15. The officers immediately initiated a police search for the stolen vehicle.
Background: Car thefts and prevention
Wenigenjena, located east of the Saale, is considered a quiet and popular residential neighborhood. The fact that vehicles are stolen directly from the doorstep increasingly affects modern cars and electric vehicles nationwide and also in Jena. Perpetrators often exploit vulnerabilities in so-called keyless-go systems in newer vehicles. They intercept the signal from the key located inside the house and relay it to the car, which can then be opened and started without visible signs of a break-in.
The police advise the following for prevention:
- Never place car keys with remote controls near house or apartment doors or windows.
- Use signal-blocking pouches (e.g., special RFID blocker bags or metal tins) to store the key and test their effectiveness directly at the car.
- Watch out for suspicious persons or vehicles in your residential area that appear to be scouting the surroundings, and inform the police if in doubt.
Source:
Police search Jena, 12.03.26: Rude awakening
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.