Frank K. applied for an exit visa in March 1984. But he continued to look for ways to escape. He had been working in a factory on Brunnenstraße since early 1986. He probably used this opportunity to gather information about the border fortifications there.
On January 27, 1986 he finally made the decision to escape and began making preparations: He obtained tools and for camouflage wore two pairs of pants so that he could switch them. He climbed over the inner wall without being noticed, but was arrested by border guards when he tried to climb over the signal fence.
They handed him over to the East German police.