Culture

Mild penalties for grocery criminals

In southern Lower Saxony, a gang of robbers targeted 16 supermarkets over a six-week period, leading to the largest series of supermarket robberies in the region. On Thursday, five defendants stood trial at the juvenile chamber of the Hanover Regional Court.

SymClub

May 16, 2024

2 min read

News, Hanover regional news, Langenhagen, Net, Guilty verdict, Robbery, rewe, edeka, Process, Hanover Regional Court, Peine, Regional, Hanover

Gangster Jean-Pascal H. (21) can be happy about the reduced sentence: the court handed down a new... — Gangster Jean-Pascal H. (21) can be happy about the reduced sentence: the court handed down a new total juvenile sentence of 4 years and three months, although he already had a relevant previous conviction

In southern Lower Saxony, 16 robberies have taken place recently. - Mild penalties for grocery criminals

"Grab the cash or I'll shoot you!" yelled Steven V. (21) and Jean-Pascal H. (21) as they stormed into various stores, armed and masked. From December 2022 through January 2023, they went on a crime spree, using a replica pistol, stun gun, and pepper spray to terrorize their victims. Their targets were Edeka, Rewe, and Netto stores, with the latter reportedly instructing their employees to willingly surrender their tills without resistance.

Helping them carry out these heists were Benahm M. (20) from Afghanistan, Ali J. (35, Syrian), and Moussa S. (30) from Langenhagen. These accomplices used their knowledge and resources to find suitable stores for their cohorts, as well as serve as drivers and watchmen. Their robberies occurred in Hanover, Laatzen, Peine, Wunstorf, Bad Eilsen, Hambühren, and Hämelerwald, to name a few. The total amount stolen during these incidents was approximately 78,000 euros.

Steven V. (21), a robber with a criminal record, received a 5.5-year juvenile sentence, but only has to serve a fraction of it due to his cocaine addiction, which requires treatment

Due to the level of fear and trauma inflicted upon the cashiers by these young gangsters with previous criminal records, the sentences they were given were surprisingly light. Steven V. from Hanover was sentenced to 5.5 years in a juvenile correctional facility, but will only have to serve a portion of it as he is set to receive treatment for his cocaine addiction at a rehabilitation clinic. During the trial, which began in January, V. was commended by the presiding judge for taking "full responsibility" for his actions, as shown in his detailed confession.

The gang showed off their loot in cell phone photos

Jean-Pascal H. received a four-year and three-month juvenile sentence that considered his prior sentence from the summer of 2023, where he had already been given a 2.5-year term for a supermarket robbery in Isernhagen. Moussa R. is set to spend two and a half years in prison, while the court decided to give Benahm M. and Ali J. suspended sentences.