Robbery at a Hardware Store
In a series of disturbing incidents over the weekend, a 20-year-old man from the Fürth/Erlangen region has been suspected of multiple thefts at hardware stores in the area.
The saga began on Friday, August 22, 2025, when the suspect first targeted a hardware store in Furth's Fritz-Gastreich-Straße. During this incident, he asked for advice about an item, only to leave the store without paying and take another item.
The same employee who recognised the suspect during the first incident also spotted him in the afternoon. However, the suspect, armed with pepper spray, repeated his criminal actions, spraying the employee again and physically assaulting him by punching, kicking, and biting him.
The man then drove away from the store in Furth, only to be provisionally arrested at the scene by officers. Due to his unruly behaviour, other employees and customers were required to restrain him.
The suspect also targeted another hardware store in Erlangen's Neumühle on Saturday. When confronted, he sprayed pepper spray in the face of a 75-year-old employee.
In addition to these crimes, the man was observed taking items and leaving the store without paying in Erlangen. Furthermore, officers found more suspected stolen goods in the suspect's vehicle, including items from previous days.
The public prosecutor's office has applied for the detention of the 20-year-old, citing his repeated thefts and violent resistance when confronted by staff. His past includes multiple theft incidents within a short period, making him a persistent threat to the community.
The man also stole items from the sanitary department during his second visit to the hardware store in Furth.
Initial attempts to detain the man in Erlangen were unsuccessful, but he was eventually arrested and taken into custody.
This unfortunate series of events serves as a reminder of the importance of personal safety and the need for swift action when dealing with such criminal behaviour. We hope for a swift resolution and justice for the victims of these incidents.
