Visit to the outdoor pool ends in shock: 31-year-old has to pay 6,000 euros!

Visit to the outdoor pool ends in shock: 31-year-old has to pay 6,000 euros!

Imagine you just want to spend a relaxing afternoon at the outdoor pool - but suddenly your trip turns into a nightmare. This is exactly what a group of four Dutch men experienced last Saturday when they drove into the federal police checkpoint on Kirchrather Strasse in Aachen around 12 p.m. Instead of enjoying the cooling off they had hoped for, they had to face a serious situation.

During the check, it became apparent that a 31-year-old passenger had several problems: there was an arrest warrant against him from the Aachen public prosecutor's office for grievous bodily harm. This conviction from 2023 included a fine of 6,000 euros or, alternatively, a substitute prison sentence of 150 days. What started out as a simple swim for him could quickly lead to a long time behind bars.

An unexpected way out

The 31-year-old tried to pay the amount due with his bank card, but it was limited - a classic misunderstanding in the wrong place at the wrong time! In order to avoid prison, his friends had to step in and raise the missing amount. It remains unclear whether the group actually had the opportunity to jump into the cool water after the checks took place.

But the problems weren't the only ones the men had to deal with. All four passengers also received charges for violating the Cannabis Consumption Act after they brought small amounts of marijuana with them to Germany. So the legal consequences seem to be adding up quickly, rather than easing up like they originally hoped.

The context of crime in Germany

Such incidents shed light on the current crime situation in Germany. According to reports on crime development, it is encouraging that the police crime statistics recorded a decrease in crime by 1.7% to around 5.84 million cases in 2024. But the picture is not so simple: while cannabis-related crimes have decreased thanks to partial legalization, there are still many other areas that show worrying numbers.

Crime figures are particularly high in North Rhine-Westphalia, where Aachen is located. The number of unreported crimes also remains a challenge, and citizens' sense of security is being strongly influenced by increasing crimes, which are often perceived as threatening.

The total number of reported crime victims is around 1.33 million, although the number of sexual offenses has increased significantly, possibly due to a greater willingness to report crimes. The clearance rate fell slightly to 58%, showing that there is still much work to be done to promote people's trust in police work.

Ultimately, the incident in Aachen is an example of the challenges that society must overcome in terms of security and justice. Whether when visiting the outdoor pool or in everyday life – the boundaries between a carefree life and legal difficulties can often be narrow.

In any case, one hopes that despite these complications, the four men will still find a way to enjoy their planned summer day.