Jena, March 14, 2026. Late Friday evening, two young football fans were victims of a robbery on the bicycle path at Stadtrodaer Straße. Three masked perpetrators forced the surrender of fan merchandise under threat of violence and subsequently fled unidentified.
- What: Robbery by extortion (theft of sweaters and scarves worth approx. 115 Euro)
- When: Friday, March 13, 2026, around 10:28 PM
- Where: Bicycle path parallel to Stadtrodaer Straße, near Hockeyplatz / Goldbergtunnel (View on Google Maps)
- Who: Three unknown, masked perpetrators (approx. 160-170 cm) attacked two 21-year-old men
- Witness call: Information to the Jena Police at 03641 810
Night-time robbery on the way home
The two 21-year-old victims, who were clearly recognizable as football fans, were on their way home on Friday around 10:28 PM. They were walking from the direction of Alt Lobeda towards Lobeda on the bicycle path that runs parallel to the four-lane Stadtrodaer Straße. Near the Hockeyplatz close to the Goldbergtunnel, a trio suddenly blocked their path.
According to police reports, the three men were masked and immediately acted aggressively. Under the explicit threat of physical violence, they demanded that the young men hand over the fan items they were wearing. Fearing an escalation and physical assault, the two 21-year-olds offered no resistance and complied with the demand. They handed over sweaters and scarves to the attackers with a total estimated value of 115 Euro.
Perpetrators flee towards Lobeda-West
After the perpetrators had taken the loot, they immediately fled in the direction of Theobald-Renner-Straße into the Lobeda-West district. The Jena Criminal Police have initiated an investigation into robbery by extortion. Since an immediate search has so far been unsuccessful, the police are now relying on the assistance of the public.
The group of perpetrators is described by the victims as follows:
- Three male individuals
- Height: each approximately 160 to 170 centimeters
- Build: average build
- Special features: All three perpetrators were masked
- Clothing: One perpetrator wore a distinctive black-red jacket, another was dressed in a gray jacket and jeans
Witnesses who made suspicious observations on Friday evening in the area of the Goldbergtunnel or in Lobeda-West, or who can provide information about the persons described, are asked to contact the Jena Police by telephone at 03641 810.
Background: Safety around Stadtrodaer Straße
The area around the Goldbergtunnel and the Hockeyplatz forms an important bottleneck for pedestrians and cyclists between Jena city center and the populous districts of Lobeda-Ost and Lobeda-West. Stadtrodaer Straße itself (B88) is heavily frequented as a main traffic artery for motor vehicles. However, the parallel pedestrian and bicycle paths, which are partially shielded from view by noise barriers or vegetation, are often sparsely populated in the late evening hours.
Police prevention tips for robbery offenses:
The police generally advise not to put up a heroic defense during a robbery, especially if the perpetrators are numerically superior or threaten violence. Health and life always take precedence over material values. Those affected should try to memorize distinctive details of the perpetrators (such as clothing, direction of flight, items carried, or linguistic peculiarities) and immediately alert the police via the 110 emergency call. The faster the emergency call is received, the higher the chances of a successful local area search by patrol cars.
Source:
Masked individuals rob football fans in Jena – they were after something specific
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.