Man steals forgotten money at the machine - dish expresses clear punishment!

Man steals forgotten money at the machine - dish expresses clear punishment!

Uckermark, Deutschland - On June 16, 2025, an incident occurred in Brandenburg, which not only raises legal but also moral questions. An elderly gentleman had forgotten to take 390 euros with them when withdrawing cash at a ATM. Another man used this forgotten sum who quickly took the money as if it were his own.

This act was not unnoticed. Thanks to the ** video surveillance ** on the ATM, the perpetrator could be quickly identified. It turned out that the 52-year-old defendant had already had a long list of criminal records, including numerous ownership offenses and even a prison sentence for predatory extortion. During his probation, he was able to free himself from alcohol and drugs, but what about his moral principles?

the legal consequences

The perpetrator, who stood up to keep the money at home for two months while waiting for a finder, was held responsible in front of the prenzlau district court. The public prosecutor raised charges for embezzlement. The accused confessed to his deed and admitted that he finally used the money to repair his car. This happened even though a young man brought the forgotten money back to the rightful owner.

The video recordings not only confirmed the removal of money, but also showed that the older man shortly afterwards put money on another machine, but did not take it. This raises the question: How often do such incidents occur and what role does video surveillance play here?

video surveillance in public space

The basic legal provisions on video surveillance have been regulated by the ** General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) since May 2018, but there are no special regulations for monitoring ATMs. The need for a weighting between the right to personality and the surveillance interest is essential. A judgment of the European Court of Justice states that the video surveillance of public space is legally subject to data protection. Ferner-Alsdorf clarifies that surveillance is only allowed under certain conditions.

The challenge often lies in communication: Companies must inform those affected about video surveillance, for example through visible signs. While the legal framework is clear, the handling of private video surveillance often remains a gray area. Private recordings, such as neighbors, can quickly lead to legal disputes if personal rights are disregarded. Busseld catalog Reminds that illegal surveillance can lead to evidence of evidence.

The decision of the court to condemn the accused for a fine of 1800 euros - this corresponds to 60 daily rates of 30 euros each - and the confiscation of the debt of 390 euros, was justified with his regression and the fact of the moment failure. In this case it shows how important the balance between legal and moral aspects is in everyday life.

It remains to be seen how such incidents will be handled in the future and whether society can develop a better understanding of responsibility and ethics.