Brazen burglary in Schwäbisch Gmünd: perpetrator convicted in court!

Brazen burglary in Schwäbisch Gmünd: perpetrator convicted in court!

In Schwäbisch Gmünd, a particular burglary caused a stir, impressively demonstrating how modern technology can be used to combat crime. Two young men broke into an apartment, but were observed by the resident in real time during their crime - thanks to installed video surveillance. This situation now led to a trial at the youth jury court, where the main perpetrator was convicted.

On October 10, 2024, 19-year-old B. stood before the Gmünder district court, although his accomplice had already been convicted. The two men had broken a skylight to get into the apartment. While they searched the premises and prepared several items, the owner of the apartment was able to observe the brutal behavior in real time thanks to his surveillance cameras and immediately alert the police.

Correct actions and consequences

The presiding judge Julia Ocker found that the defendant's drug addiction was a motive for the burglary. Nevertheless, she described the perpetrators’ behavior as “particularly brazen”. After the two noticed the surveillance cameras, they simply moved them away to continue searching for valuables. During this process, the police were alerted and several patrol cars were already waiting in front of the house for the burglars. Luckily, the perpetrators couldn't even take the stolen items, including an Apple keyboard and Zeiss binoculars.

Ultimately, the judges decided that it was not a particularly serious burglary, but just an attempted burglary, which the defendant readily admitted. The court imposed a juvenile sentence of two years without parole, which met the prosecutor's requirements and was only marginally higher than the defense attorney's proposal.

Young people with a problematic past

The judge also recognized that the defendant had already had a problematic youth. He was successful at school until the 7th grade, but at the age of 13 he started taking drugs and thus lost the structure in his life. B. already had five entries in his criminal record, ranging from burglaries to other crimes. It was clear that his development was delayed, which is why the court applied juvenile law.

On the positive side, the juvenile court assistant, Alexander Heyder, explained that detention could potentially help the young man gain new perspectives. According to his own statements, he is interested in training in the prison workshop and intends to start drug therapy to address his addiction problems.

What was particularly interesting was that the owner of the apartment, who observed the burglars via the cameras, was unable to appear in court in person. He could not be reached and only gave a false address in Bavaria shortly before the start of the negotiations. This detail shows how difficult it is sometimes to reconcile good and bad luck in the justice system.

The incident illustrates the importance of modern technology in the fight against crime and the role of the justice system in dealing with young perpetrators. For a detailed look and more information on this case, visit www.schwaebische-post.de.