Street robbery in Bremen: 100-year-old cheated out of a gold watch!

Street robbery in Bremen: 100-year-old cheated out of a gold watch!

A frightening incident in Bremen is causing a stir: the public prosecutor's office and the police are urgently looking for three young perpetrators who attacked a 100-year-old man on May 30th. The attack occurred around 7 p.m. at the intersection of Sandstrasse and Wilhadistrasse, where the perpetrators pushed the elderly gentleman to the ground and stole a gold Patek Philippe wristwatch from him. This noble watch has a value in the six-figure range, as reported by Weser courier can be read.

What is particularly alarming is that the police believe that the perpetrators may have been involved in other cases in which they specifically selected high-value loot. In Bremen, street robbery crimes have increased significantly compared to the previous year: 190 crimes had already been recorded by the end of April 2025, compared to 228 in the previous year. In addition, a public search shows that the perpetrators follow a pattern of spying on their victims in advance.

The facts at a glance

• Überfall auf 100-jährigen Mann: 30. Mai, Sandstraße/Wilhadistraße
• Gestohlene Uhr: Patek Philippe im Wert eines sechsstelligen Betrags
• Anzahl erfasster Straßenraube: 190 bis April 2025, 228 im Vorjahr
• Erfolgreiche Täteridentifizierung: Videoaufnahmen durch Sonderkommission “Junge Räuber”

The authorities consider the clearance rate for street robberies to be positive: of 1,381 investigations, 901 were solved and 77 arrest warrants were obtained. There are currently 35 defendants in custody, while 31 have been conditionally released. These figures indicate a temporary improvement in the security situation, even if the police continue to call for vigilance.

Expanded investigations and new findings

But it's not just this attack that attracts the police's attention. Around four and a half months after a jewelry theft in Hamburg, a gang of thieves from Bremen were identified. As the District newspaper reports, three suspects were identified: two men aged 43 and 53 and a 24-year-old woman. Their homes were searched, but there were no reasons for their arrest. The jewelry theft in Hamburg occurred on December 4, 2024. One perpetrator distracted the seller while another stole valuable jewelry in the background.

The investigation shows clear connections to other cities, with the stolen jewelry mostly ending up abroad. It is known that some smartphones that were stolen were traced to Morocco or Algeria. Another worrying point is the fact that, according to police crime statistics for Bremen, a total of 105,000 cases were processed in 2024. This figure shows an increase of 8.6% compared to the previous year and raises questions about the overall security situation. Overall robbery crimes fell by over 22%, but street robbery saw an increase from 587 to 625 cases.

The police are urging people to raise awareness and give clear recommendations on how to avoid attacks: Appearing confidently, keeping an eye on your surroundings and carrying valuables concealed can help prevent possible attacks. Should a critical situation arise, the advice to run away when in doubt is always of great importance. Buten and inland reports that around 73% of street robbery suspects are non-German, mostly young men from North Africa.

These current developments highlight how important it is to be vigilant and keep an eye on the security situation. The citizens of Bremen are asked to be careful and to report any suspicious observations to the police immediately. With strong solidarity, we can work together to ensure a safe environment.