Prison Escape Turned Robbery in Magdeburg's Supermarket
Magdeburg - Burg Prison, famously known for its high security, has been under scrutiny recently. A 46-year-old inmate, Denis H., reportedly took advantage of his temporary freedom to plan a daring heist instead of adjusting to life outside bars.
Upon waking up to an early morning alarm, two staff members were startled by the inmate, who was waving a firearm around. His only demand? Open the safe and hand over the cash. Desperate staffers tried their best, but Denis H. proved to be too crafty. Frustrated, he snatched some cash from the cash register before fleeing.
The police were quick in apprehending the suspect. Denis H. found himself back in prison, where he had spent much of his adult life.
According to the Ministry of Justice spokesperson, Denis H. was indeed in open detention. However, the incident in Magdeburg has led to an ongoing investigation. The Magdeburg public prosecutor's office is taking charge.
Denis H. has a criminal record of incidents such as bank robberies, earning himself the nickname of the "mastermind" among authorities. His accomplice, Andreas D., was also involved in various heists.
In 2014, the duo exploded five ATMs across Magdeburg and its surroundings. The stolen money amounted to around 200,000 euros, which they intended to use to settle debts and visit Cuba. Their criminal activities came to a halt when they were preparing for an ATM blast near Neundorf, Salzland district.
The police arrested the duo before they could complete their plan, uncovering the necessary materials for the blast.
Why was he granted open prison sentence?
Denis H. was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison in 2015. His partner in crime, Andreas D., only served 6 years and 6 months. The court considered Denis H. to be the primary brain behind the operation.
Despite his criminal history, authorities believed that Denis H. deserved an opportunity to reform. The Ministry of Justice explained that open prison sentences are used as a treatment method aimed at enabling inmates to live a crime-free life after their release.
Being close to his release date, Denis H. had already secured a job in Saxony-Anhalt, which was a factor in considering the open prison sentence. Inmates in Saxony-Anhalt have to meet rigorous requirements before being considered for open detention, with regular checks and evaluations conducted beforehand.
However, the risks can never be completely eliminated, as pointed out by the Ministry of Justice. Despite the low recidivism rate among inmates in open prison, there's always a chance for a prisoner to commit a crime during their release.
Background Details
Denis H.'s ATM heist wasn't the first time a local supermarket has caught the headlines in Saxony-Anhalt. A prisoner from Burg Prison, serving time for a Magdeburg supermarket robbery, was arrested by the Dresden police.[1]
Following Denis H.'s robbery case, the Ministry of Justice in Leipzig addressed the issue, stating that the investigation was underway by the criminal prosecution authorities.[2]
Many sources, including Bild.de, have covered Denis H.'s former sentencing for his ATM robbery activities in 2014, raising questions about the safety of inmates in Saxony-Anhalt's open prisons [3,4,5].
Sources: [1] - Dresden regional news report (information not provided)
[2] - Leipzig regional news report (information not provided)
[3] - Bild.de report on Denis H.'s new crime (citation needed)
[4] - Domestic news source report on Denis H.'s background (citation needed)
[5] - Unnamed local news source report on Denis H.'s sentencing for ATM robberies (citation needed)
