A phantom motorist has been, if not terrorising, at least annoying multiple villages in Germany.
For the past six months, the unidentified driver has been regularly throwing sandwiches out of their vehicle while driving along the B184 through the villages of Königsborn and Heyrothsberge, near Magdeburg – the capital of the German state Saxony-Anhalt.
Always wrapped in tin foil, these panini contain various fillings – including liver sausage, salami and cheese.
By the time they are thrown away by the motorist, they are sometimes half unwrapped with a bite or two taken out.
At times, however, people have been finding them in their gardens or on the playing field of a local football club still seemingly untouched.
The sandwich thrower appears to have a regular routine, as the unwanted food is left to be dealt with by locals only on weekdays and always before 6am.
These throws have become a major nuisance for people who have to clean up after the driver.
Holger Becker, chairman of the club Union Heyrothsberge, noted the volunteers helping the football team have added workload thanks to the motorist. He also told The Times: “I have no idea why they’re doing this.”
Thomas Wilk, who lives along the road in Königsborn, told German publication Bild: “Why does he let someone make sandwiches if he doesn’t want to eat them?”
The regular pattern of this littering has brought locals and experts alike to wonder what the reason behind it may be.
Psychologist Anke Precht wondered whether this may be a classic case of “missed moment”, a theory consisting of people missing the chance to point out they don’t like something and having to live with the consequences.
The expert cited as an example to the German publication a man who, after falling in love with a woman, doesn’t want to say he doesn’t eat salmon, as she had just cooked one for him.
Rather, besotted by the new partner, he praises her cooking skills and the dish – which leads to him having to eat fish, despite not liking it, regularly.
The psychologist advised the thrower that, if they are finding themelves in this situation, they should build up courage and speak to their partner.
Others impacted by the throws, however, believe the real reason behind them could be resentment against the targets.
Throwing rubbish from a vehicle is not just a nuisance for people who have to pick up the litter, as in the Saxony-Anhalt state it can lead to a fine of up to £343 (€400).
Germany isn’t the first nation affected by a regular thrower. In April, police in Sussex launched a hunt for a person who attacked multiple locals by hitting them with fruit while in a car, leaving at least two seriously injured.
