According to the local paper, North Africans, especially those from Tunesia, are responsible for the increase in shoplifting in Central Switzerland. When caught, the shoplifters react aggressively by shouting, hitting, spitting and even urinating on the police.

On the other hand, pickpocketing has decreased.

Edit: According to the article, the shoplifters did not urinate on the police officers but they did urinate in the police office. I apologize for the false reporting.

Oly Honey, dont take it personal but for a moment I thought it was The Local news...

Are you saying that homegrown Tunisian traditions of shouting, hitting, spitting and urinating on the police are not welcomed in central Switzerland? As a multicultural land we should open our arms (and legs) and embrace new cultures. Racism is clearly alive and well in the darkest Alpine valleys.

I've seen the Police carting off North Africans from shops in little towns deep in SZ - and I don't even go there much.

I thought something was amiss... The local Lidl has installed some brain piercing thief detectors... not impressed!

Darkest? Don't you mean lightest?

Isn't this just media propaganda?

I think it's a propaganda ploy.. started by the Roma

Morning Nil, I'm more local than the Local but totally see the comparison.

It's on page 3 of our local newspaper. Migros managers, asyl center employees and other shop assistants have all personally told me their has been an increase in crime due to North African asyl seekers. I see it more as a fact than racism. Why? Because most of the crime is caused by frustrated male asyl seekers hoping to have found paradise in Switzerland and are confronted with the reality that it isn't.

No, I don't believe it's media propaganda because it's being confirmed by the police, store employees and asyl center workers.

Ou yesss ... Shopliffiting with post urinating attack is on the raise. Specially in central and septentrional Switzerland.
Numbers of urinated victims is not yet clear.
Number of attacks not yet confirmed.
Not much information, but I have been told so and now it had been confirmed in englishforum.ch
Please, spread the alarm and make sure you protect yourself against any North African or Tunisian or light brown skin person around you.

God bless you!

This thread needs a new title:

"Thieving desert natives treat Heidi to golden showers"

Such reporting does make me quite uncomfortable though!

God bless you too, brother.

Could you provide the source for the news? Anyway, I am not really surprised by what you say. Different cultures, you know, totally incompatible sometimes.

It's on page 3 of today's Bote der Urschweiz. The title "Massive mehr Ladendiebstähle" is accompanied by a smaller article titled "Perspektivenlos und Enttäuscht." I know the reporter's daughters well but haven't met him personally.

And please leave the "Chäsblatt" comments for another time.

Huäre Chäsblatt!

Am I supposed to know what "chäsblatt" means as a non-german speaker in the non-german speaking part of the country?

Is it the culture or are we getting the riff raff from those countries? I tend to believe the latter.

Have to ask: Ever met one? Like in real life?

The truth is that being an asylum seeker is shit. You are pretty close to be a prisoner: You don't have money and you are not allowed to make any... so even if you would find work, you cannot be employed while in the process. You cannot travel freely and now imagine you end up in some central Swiss village: The only highlight of the town is the local pub, but you don't drink cause you are Muslim and could not afford it anyway if you weren't - and the local Migros.

Given the time in which the troubles in North Africa started are most still in the process to either get asylum or sent back... so even if they wanted to they cannot integrate to a normal Swiss life in any way. Honestly: If I was bumming around for months not being able to make anything sensible out of my time... I would probably start doing stupid things myself. (Urinating on cops would however not be on top of my list - I would probably study the local language and start writing anonymous passive-aggressive notes and enjoy the show the neighbours will put up based on them...)

She's right of course, covered in all national newspapers, not just some local ones and confirmed by police:

http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/zuerich/...story/31431047

I still don't understand why they aren't immediately deported, I don't see a single valid reason for asylum for Tunisians.