Berlin police said today that a break-in had taken place at the campaign headquarters of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's Social Democratic Party and a laptop computer had been stolen.
A police spokesman confirmed a report about the break-in in the news magazine Der Spiegelas Germany braced for the country's first-ever nationally televised election debate.
The magazine said files had been stolen as well as the computer, which contained sensitive data about schedules and security precautions for top candidates during the campaign.
The magazine had reported that two break-ins took place last week. It said the burglar was evidently well informed about security measures in the building.
Mr Schröder's SPD and the opposition Christian Democrats are locked in a tight battle approaching the September 22nd elections.
Mr Schröder and challenger Mr Edmund Stoiber will meet in a key televised debate tomorrow evening.