A method for monitoring the environment of a vehicle includes evaluating physical measurement data obtained from the environment of the vehicle to determine whether at least one person is approaching the vehicle, how many people approach the vehicle may also be recorded. The method includes evaluating physical measurement data obtained from the environment of the vehicle to determine whether at least one person is moving away from the vehicle and, if appropriate, the number of people that are moving away from the vehicle is also recorded. The method further includes carrying out a check as to whether the number of people that have moved away from the vehicle corresponds to the number of people that have previously approached the vehicle. In response to the check resulting in a difference, it is determined that the vehicle is in an unsafe state.