Aarhus pram thefts have raised concern among parents in the central district of Frederiksbjerg, where East Jutland Police (Østjyllands Politi) say they are seeing a new pattern of thefts involving expensive baby carriages and pushchairs.
Since May, several families in and around Frederiksbjerg have reported stolen prams, including cases from locked stairwells, courtyards, street level and outside childcare facilities. According to TV 2, at least six thefts or attempted thefts have been identified in Frederiksbjerg, with two more in nearby areas.
In two cases, a child was inside the pram when the attempted theft began. Police say the preliminary assessment does not indicate an intent to abduct children, but rather a financial motive linked to resale.
A new theft pattern in central Aarhus
East Jutland Police have registered 31 reported pram thefts in the police district up to and including June 2026. The figure is already close to the annual levels seen in several previous years, after reported cases rose sharply in 2025.
The local trend is particularly visible in Frederiksbjerg and neighbouring Langenæs, where police say thefts often take place during daytime, when many parents leave prams outside cafés, homes or institutions.
Police Commissioner Brian Voss Olsen told TV 2 that officers are looking at a form of crime they have not previously seen on this scale.
“We are seeing a new criminal pattern,” he said. “We have not seen it to this extent before.”
Expensive Bugaboo models appear to be targeted
Police say several cases involve Bugaboo prams, a premium brand popular among Danish parents. Some of the most expensive models cost more than 10,000 Danish kroner (around €1,340), while one stolen pram cited by TV 2 was valued at about 11,000 Danish kroner (around €1,470).
“There are indications that someone has found an area of crime where they can steal expensive prams and sell them on,” Voss Olsen said.
The Danish krone is closely linked to the euro through Denmark’s fixed exchange-rate policy, with the Nationalbanken keeping the exchange rate stable around 7.46038 kroner per euro. The European Central Bank’s latest reference rate was close to that level, at about 7.47 kroner per euro.
Parents change habits in a trusted neighbourhood
For many families, the thefts have altered daily routines in an area normally perceived as safe.
Sophus Emil Lyngesen Grønne told TV 2 that his family’s pram was stolen from a locked stairwell on 12 May. He said the family used to feel comfortable leaving doors unlocked on their floor, but no longer does so.
“We live in a very safe neighbourhood, and before we might not always lock the door on our floor. We do now. It has changed some things,” he said.
He now locks the family’s pram even when it is inside the building. His neighbour has done the same.
“It is so low to take something that belongs to a small child. But with those prices, it makes sense,” he said.
Outdoor naps are part of Danish everyday life
The thefts have touched a sensitive part of Danish family culture. In Denmark and other Nordic countries, it is common for babies to sleep outside in prams during the day, including outside cafés, homes and childcare centres. The Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen) provides guidance for children sleeping outdoors in cold weather, including insulation, appropriate clothing and regular supervision.
For that reason, several parents and local representatives have framed the thefts not only as property crime, but as a disruption to a daily practice based on trust and public safety.
Henrik Olsen, chair of the local council for Frederiksbjerg, Langenæs and City (Fællesrådet Frederiksbjerg, Langenæs og City), told TV 2 Østjylland that prams and pushchairs have also disappeared from locked courtyards. His association has installed constant lighting in one courtyard in an attempt to deter thieves.
“It is a shame if this is caused by fear of letting children sleep outside. We have always been able to do that in Denmark,” he said.
Police increase daytime patrols
East Jutland Police say they will now target patrols in the affected areas during the day. At this stage, police have not identified who is behind the thefts.
Parents are being advised to secure prams with a lock, in the same way they would lock a bicycle, especially when leaving them on streets or outside cafés.
“You should consider, when sitting in a café, whether you need to secure your pram extra well when it is standing on streets and lanes,” Voss Olsen said.
The police commissioner also stressed that parents should not fear that someone is trying to take their child. According to police, the current investigation points to theft for profit rather than child abduction.
“We take this deeply seriously and very seriously. The preliminary investigation shows that no one wants to remove a child, but that the purpose was enrichment,” he said.
A local crime wave with wider meaning
The number of reported pram thefts in Denmark remains limited compared with broader property crime categories, but the Aarhus cases stand out because of where and how they have occurred. National Police (Rigspolitiet) statistics made available in the TV 2 report show 141 reported pram thefts across Denmark up to June 2026, after 315 in 2025 and 399 in 2024.
In East Jutland, reported pram thefts rose from 21 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 72 in 2025. The 31 cases recorded by June 2026 suggest that the issue remains active, particularly in central Aarhus.
For police, the immediate priority is prevention and identification of suspects. For parents, the impact is more personal: a small but visible shift in how much trust can be placed in everyday public space.
