Press statement jointly issued by the Tübingen Public Prosecutor's Office and the Reutlingen Police Headquarters
In a series of meticulous investigations, a six-member gang is under suspicion for committing theft, residential burglary, and robbery in multiple districts and cities across Germany. The investigations, led by the Public Prosecutor's Office Tübingen and a specialized investigation group from the Criminal Police Directorate Esslingen, have so far uncovered a network of crimes that began as early as spring 2025.
The gang is alleged to have targeted wealthy men using the dating platform Tinder. Once they established contact, they would arrange meetings, often in the cities of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Esslingen, Heilbronn, Stuttgart, Frankfurt am Main, and Worms, among others.
During these meetings, a 33-year-old suspect would express interest in the men, only to steal high-value watches and, in some cases, house keys to later steal credit cards and other valuables. The suspects are also believed to have contacted individuals selling high-value watches on eBay's classifieds for robbery.
The investigation by the Esslingen Criminal Police Directorate continues, and it is assumed that further persons may have been targeted in similar dating encounters, with high-value watches stolen, which have not yet been reported to the police.
On Friday (25.07.2025), three suspects aged 23 and 19 were caught in the act during another meeting in Tübingen and temporarily detained. Five men and one woman have been identified and temporarily detained in connection with the crimes. Two more suspects aged 29 and 21, as well as the 33-year-old alleged member of the gang, were also temporarily detained.
The 19-year-old with Guinean citizenship and the five German suspects, among them a 23-year-old and a 33-year-old woman who also hold Turkish citizenship, were presented to the judge at Reutlingen District Court on Saturday (26.07.2025) and were taken to prisons.
The damages caused by the gang are estimated to be at least 200,000 euros. The victims of the thefts and assaults allegedly connected to the suspected gang are said to originate from the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras.
Any affected persons are asked to contact the Criminal Police in Tübingen on 07071/972-0 to help identify recovered stolen goods. During further operations, the investigators seized extensive evidence, including high-value jewelry, Rolex watches, and cash in the six-figure range, as well as several high-value vehicles.
The suspects used the stolen bank cards to make withdrawals. On 23.07.2025, a 44-year-old man in Metzingen-Neuhausen was robbed of a high-value watch during such a sales meeting. The suspect has since been identified.
The investigations are ongoing, and further details may be released as the investigation progresses.
Read also:
- Impact of Alcohol on the Human Body: Nine Aspects of Health Alteration Due to Alcohol Consumption
- Understanding the Concept of Obesity
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Tough choices on August 13, 2025 for those born under Aquarius? Consider the advantages and disadvantages to gain guidance
