The Ministry confirmed that this is a record. Only in a quarter of all cases is the document returned to its rightful owner.

It's especially girls in the 15 to 25 age category that most often lose their ID card. The cards are often stored in handbags that are especially vulnerable to theft.

Criminals often try to make use of stolen ID cards. The Interior Ministry is now launching a new campaign aimed at getting people to report the theft or loss of an ID card immediately.

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