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Darmstadt café break-in leads to swift arrest of 36-year-old thief

A predawn café heist turned chaotic when the thief tried to crack open a cigarette machine. Police caught him minutes later—now he’s behind bars.

, and Administrator

2026 January 14 . 10:08 PM

1 min read

The image shows an old map of the city of Darmstadt, Germany, with text written on it. The map is... — The image shows an old map of the city of Darmstadt, Germany, with text written on it. The map is detailed and shows the streets, buildings, and other landmarks of the area. The text on the map provides additional information about the city, such as the names of the streets and landmarks, as well as the distance between them.

Darmstadt café break-in leads to swift arrest of 36-year-old thief

A café in Darmstadt was broken into early on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Police quickly arrested a 36-year-old suspect near the scene after he stole alcohol and tried to force open a cigarette machine. The man now faces charges of aggravated theft while in custody.

The incident took place at around 7 a.m. in the Herrngarten area. The suspect broke into the café’s sales room, damaging property as he entered. He then attempted to pry open a cigarette vending machine before grabbing several bottles of alcohol.

Officers launched an immediate search and found the man close to the crime scene. They took him into custody without further incident. The suspect was later transferred to police headquarters, where investigators are now preparing a case for aggravated theft.

The 36-year-old remains in custody as the investigation continues. Police have not yet released further details about the suspect’s identity or possible motives. The café owner is assessing the damage caused during the break-in.