Hamburg, September 25 – The Hamburg Regional Court has sentenced three defendants to multi-year prison terms for a brutal robbery of a goldsmith in Langenhorn. The men were found guilty of aggravated robbery in conjunction with dangerous bodily harm.
Premeditated Robbery and High-Value Loot
According to the criminal chamber, the three Serbian nationals, aged 25, 47, and 49, scouted the goldsmith’s premises for at least a month prior to the crime. On March 17, 2025, they attacked him at his home, which also houses his workshop. The perpetrators stole jewelry, scrap gold, and gemstones with a total value exceeding 176,000 euros.
The Course of the Crime
The court determined that on the day of the crime, the defendants punctured the tires of the victim’s wife’s car while she was at the gym. They then drove with two accomplices to the goldsmith’s house and rang the doorbell. When the 71-year-old victim opened the door, they punched him in the face and tied his arms and legs. The robbers then searched the house and workshop for about 15 minutes before fleeing with their loot.
Victim Suffers Heart Attack, Airtag Leads to Arrests
The goldsmith sustained injuries to his head, face, and wrists. Despite his injuries, he managed to free himself and alert his wife and the police. He later suffered a heart attack, which led to a six-week hospital stay. The presiding judge stated, “This is at least a consequence of the crime.”
Police quickly tracked down the robbers. The perpetrators had taken the loot in the victim’s backpack, which contained an Airtag. The tracking device transmitted the robbers’ location as they drove to Berlin in two rental cars. Before police could intervene, the defendants sold a portion of the loot to a jeweler for approximately 19,000 euros. They were then arrested by the police.
Prison Sentences for the Robbers
The court sentenced the 47-year-old to seven years in prison, and the 25-year-old to six years and nine months. The 49-year-old, who, according to the judge, secured the scene outside the goldsmith’s house, received five years and nine months in prison. All three confessed to the charges but accused a compatriot of being the main culprit. This individual, along with his wife and son, is reportedly in Serbia and is being pursued separately.
Artistic Loss Outweighs Economic Damage
The court also ordered the confiscation of the stolen assets. The goldsmith suffered significant economic damage. As a co-plaintiff, he testified that he was particularly pained by the loss of his own creations. The court found that the perpetrators showed a complete lack of decency, even tearing the 71-year-old’s wedding ring from his finger as they left his house.
Source: NDR.de
