Berlin Poker Heist: Violent Crime Rare in Germany

After the EPT Berlin poker tournament robbery that occurred on Saturday in broad daylight (and during filming no less), the first thing popping into everyone's mind was how dangerous a city is Berlin?

The answer:  It's not at all.  In fact, Berlin ranks among the safest cities in the world.

The U.S. Department of State assesses all German cities with U.S. diplomatic presence as low to medium for criminal activity. According to the crime statistics available to the embassy, American tourists visiting Germany are rarely the victims of criminal activity.

According to reports, four to six men, allegedly brandishing guns, machetes and possibly grenades, broke into the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin demanding money.

Most of those playing in EPT Berlin could be considered tourists.

Even more odd, the robbery occurred in what should have been a heavily fortified hotel, the Grand Hyatt.  Did we not learn from Mumbai? 

The suspects were caught on tape so police hope to have some strong leads. 

Berlin is no stranger to audacious robberies in heavily traveled locales however.

In February 2009, there was a jewelry heist at Berlin's luxury department store KaDeWe.

In July 2008, thieves tunneled their way to a vault filled with cash and gemstones at a branch of Commerzbank on Berlin's smartest shopping street.

Make no mistake about it, the EPT Berlin Poker Tournament heist made the front page of all the major Berlin newspapers, not to mention a number of the British tabloids.  Most of the major New York City papers also covered the armed poker robbery.

Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com