Brutal robbery in Bochum: Trio beats Witten supporter for fan scarf!

Brutal robbery in Bochum: Trio beats Witten supporter for fan scarf!

In the early morning hours of August 24, 2025, a 24-year-old man from Witten was the victim of a brutal robbery in downtown Bochum. The incident occurred around 1:20 a.m. on Kortumstrasse, in the immediate vicinity of busy streets and bars. Three unknown men stopped the young man and asked him to hand over the fan scarf he was wearing.

The situation quickly escalated when, after the victim complied, one of the perpetrators punched him in the face. After the attack, the perpetrators fled in an unknown direction. The police describe the people they are looking for as “southern”, aged 18 to 20, around 178 cm tall and with a distinctive three-day beard. Dark clothing and black caps were the trademark of the aggressive group, which caused a shocking incident in the city. The Picture reports on these shocking details and an ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department 31.

Police investigations are ongoing

The police have started an investigation and are asking the public for any relevant information. Witnesses can call 0234 909-8105 or -4441 (criminal station). The incident highlights the current security situation in Bochum and North Rhine-Westphalia, where, as statistically documented, the number of robbery crimes in 2022 was high at over 38,000 cases. This reflects an increase compared to previous years, although the number of robbery-homicides has been halved over the past 20 years. The clearance rate is almost 60%, which also shows that the police are successful in many cases.

Brutal robberies like this are known to be a worrying phenomenon in many German cities. An insight into crime statistics shows that North Rhine-Westphalia recorded over 23,500 residential burglaries in 2022, accounting for over 35% of all cases in Germany. The number of thefts also increased noticeably, with shoplifting and bicycle theft being particularly common. This makes it clear that general security is an important issue not only in Bochum, but throughout Germany.

Signals from civil society

In times like these, it is essential that civil society stands together and keeps its eyes and ears open. To ensure that such attacks do not become a habit, it is important to be vigilant and, if in doubt, to call the police. The August 24 incident underscores that the security situation in urban areas will continue to be a challenge in 2025. Express describes the whole thing clearly and appeals to the population to work together to ensure safe coexistence.

It remains to be hoped that the perpetrators will be caught and further attacks of this kind can be prevented. Public attention to such incidents can make a significant contribution to everyday safety.