Overview

• Since 2021 the Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt has issued 46 public reward offers totaling €238,000 without disbursing a single euro by the end of July 2025.
• Investigators deploy rewards of up to €10,000 only when traditional leads run dry and cases remain unresolved.
• The Justice and Interior Ministries set reward guidelines while local police must apply for each offer and obtain final approval from the LKA.
• To qualify for payment a tip must be directly responsible for identifying or arresting a suspect under the 'ursächlich entscheidend' standard.
• Despite zero payouts, the LKA maintains that reward offers boost public engagement and keep pressure on suspects in complex investigations.