Theft - Rolex torn from his wrist: Probation
Because a 37-year-old woman from Duisburg snatched a luxury watch worth 25,000 Euro from the wrist of an 87-year-old man, she was sentenced to one year of probation at the Amtsgericht in Krefeld. She was found guilty of commercial theft and aggravated bodily harm.
The defendant had followed the man from a bank branch in Krefeld to his residence in a car. When the senior stepped out of the car, she snatched the Rolex watch from his wrist and injured him in the process.
The defendant's DNA was used to identify her as the perpetrator. The senior had attempted to apprehend her and in the process, she tore a piece of fabric from his shirt. She confessed to stealing the watch and "selling it for 4,000 Euro." She acted alone.
The 87-year-old had a different perspective. He was certain that someone else was in the car with the defendant. However, it could not be proven that she was part of a nationwide Romanian gang.
- During the court proceedings at the Amtsgericht in Duisburg, the woman's lawyer argued that her actions were fueled by her financial struggles.
- The Rolex wristwatch, a symbol of luxury and status, was placed in plain sight on the senior's wrist, attracting the woman's attention.
- The local court in Krefeld acknowledged the bodily injury the woman inflicted upon the senior as part of the theft process, but it did not significantly impact the sentencing.
- The woman's one-year probation includes mandatory counseling sessions to address her issues with material desires and violent tendencies.
- In North Rhine-Westphalia, probation is often used as a form of rehabilitation for first-time offenders, offering them a chance to reform without serving prison time.
- The wristwatch, now in the possession of law enforcement, will likely be returned to its rightful owner once the necessary legal procedures are completed.
- Despite the public outcry, the woman's sentence sparked a broader discussion about the role of restorative justice in handling minor crimes.
