In the process of stealing jewels from the historic Green Vault in Dresden, one of the defendants made a confession. "I wasn't just in Dresden, I was in the rooms of the Green Vault myself," said the 29-year-old in court.
His assignment was to climb through the previously prepared window with an unaccused person, smash the display case in the jewel room and steal pieces of jewelery "because I'm strong and I was ready for it".
According to his own statements, the man was not involved in the original planning of the crime. He had been approached two to three months earlier if he wanted to take part. "The idea wasn't mine." This arose from the enthusiasm of "another person" from a class trip to the Green Vault and the Green Diamond exhibited there, and the plan was developed over a year.
"I'm the one with the flashlight, the other one told me where to go," said the 29-year-old, revising his statement from March 2022. His contribution to the crime was "significantly more important" than stated at the time. He was also there to prepare for two of the reconnaissance tours to Dresden. "I was amazed that you could move around so freely and unnoticed and that nobody noticed," he explained.
Spectacular theft with an ax
The burglary of the Saxon Treasury Museum on November 25, 2019 was one of the most spectacular art thefts in Germany and also made international headlines. Two perpetrators broke into the residential palace through a window that had been prepared unnoticed days earlier, hacked holes in the display case with the most magnificent valuables with an ax and ripped out everything they could get their hands on. The whole thing lasted only a few minutes, when the police arrived, the thieves and their loot had disappeared.
According to the indictment, they stole 21 pieces of jewelry made of diamonds and brilliants with a total value of over 113 million euros. In addition, they are said to have left more than one million euros in property damage. A getaway car was set on fire in the underground car park of a residential building to cover up tracks.
After exploratory talks, most of the jewelry had been returned via one of the defenders just before Christmas, partially damaged and incomplete. However, for the deal between the public prosecutor's office, the defense and the court, which promises a reduced sentence, the accused must provide specific information about the coup and their involvement.
