Robbery of a 69-year-old in Templin – police are looking for witnesses!

Robbery of a 69-year-old in Templin – police are looking for witnesses!

A robbery of a 69-year-old man in Templin is causing excitement and concern in the region. On Sunday, July 6, 2025, around 10:40 a.m., the senior citizen was approached on Youth Street by a young man who asked for money. However, the pensioner rejected the request and continued on his way. What happened next makes you sit up and take notice.

The unknown perpetrator followed the elderly man to a front door, where he physically attacked him and snatched his backpack. The perpetrator took three-digit cash from this and then fled in an unknown direction. The police have already started an investigation into the robbery and are asking the public for information about the crime or the identity of the perpetrator. He is described as around 20 years old, around 165 cm tall and with dark hair, dressed in dark blue trousers and a sweater. Witnesses can contact the Templin police station by telephone on 03987/43-0 or online via the Internet watchdog, as Nordkurier reports.

The particular risk of older people

The incident is a cause for concern, particularly as fear of street violence is high, particularly among older people. Although the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime in large cities is relatively low, older people are often disproportionately affected, particularly in their own homes. Trick thieves and fraudsters who require an emergency or official function in order to break into homes are competitive. This is shown by a report from the NRW Police.

What is it that makes these older people a target for criminals? It is often loneliness or a feeling of helplessness that makes those affected vulnerable. The perpetrators' common scams are diverse and range from feigning distress to fraudulent calls. There is an urgent need for seniors to be informed about these risks.

Focus on age-related crime

What many people don't know is that older people can also become criminals. According to a current study by HM Professor Stefan Pohlmann, age-related crime is still a phenomenon that receives little attention. The number of criminal seniors could exceed the number of adolescents in the future, which is due to increasing life expectancy and falling birth rates. In 2019, there were around 155,000 suspects aged 60 and older in Germany. The most common crimes in this age group are theft, insults, minor bodily harm and fraud. These developments paint a differentiated picture: not only are seniors at risk, they are also increasingly becoming involved in criminal activities themselves. Preventionstag provides further information.

At a time when the social structure is becoming increasingly fragile, the robbery of the pensioner in Templin not only shows the risks for older people on the street, but also highlights the vulnerable situations that can exist within one's own four walls. Each of us should be vigilant and help our older citizens feel safer.