By Alina-Doreen Gröning and Matthias Lukashevich
The pensioners in the Märkisches Viertel have been scared for weeks. The fear of a murderous gang of robbers. Finally, three suspects have been arrested.
The trio (22, 23, 37) residing in Berlin is said to be responsible for the robbery and murder of Heinz S. (83) in August in the Märkisches Viertel and for several brutal robberies. They are also suspects of murdering a woman (67) in Annaburg (Saxony-Anhalt).
The alleged perpetrators were arrested in Berlin on September 3rd. The arrest warrants were executed last Wednesday, the police and prosecutors announced yesterday. The men are partly of Serbian and German nationality.
Police suspect the group is responsible for at least four other robberies of senior citizens between July 1 and September 1:
► On July 1, an 81-year-old and his wife (87) were threatened with a knife, beaten and tied up by four people, including a woman, in a residential complex on Wilhelmsruher Damm. The perpetrators were able to flee with stolen money. Both victims were seriously injured.
► On July 25, two men attacked, tied up and robbed an 82-year-old in his apartment on Finsterwalder Straße. They fled with a wallet, cash and other personal items.
What happened behind that window? Investigators in white protective suits secure traces in the apartment of the murdered pensioner Photo: Spreepicture
► Four men are said to have pressed, tied up and beat a 78-year-old in his apartment on August 25 in Moabit. They fled.
► On September 1, five men attacked an 80-year-old woman in her apartment on Tiefenseer Straße. They also stole money and personal belongings.
The investigations by the authorities in Berlin and Dessau-Roßlau into other accomplices and other robberies are ongoing.