Incident Overview
- Location: Jena Innenstadt
- Date: Tuesday evening, February 17, 2026
- Trigger: Theft of a pastry (Value: €0.99)
- Consequences: Assault, insult, police custody
Jena. It is often the small things that set large avalanches in motion. On Tuesday evening, an incident in Jena Innenstadt impressively demonstrated how quickly a supposed triviality can escalate. A 42-year-old man had to spend the night in a cell – the starting point was the illegal consumption of a baked good worth less than one euro.
From the shelf to the mouth – without paying
The incident occurred in a supermarket in the city center. A store employee observed the 42-year-old helping himself to the goods on display. The object of desire was a simple pastry for 99 cents. Instead of taking the item to the checkout, the man consumed the pastry on-site and left the store without paying the small amount.
What initially appeared to be a simple case of petty shoplifting took an aggressive turn outside the supermarket doors. For reasons yet unknown, the shoplifter became involved in a physical altercation with an unknown passerby. Witnesses reported a fight, after which both parties initially fled in unknown directions.
Police intervene: Alcohol level causes aggression
The alerted police immediately initiated search measures in the immediate vicinity. The 42-year-old did not get far; officers were able to apprehend him in the vicinity of the city center. It turned out that the man was not unknown to the law enforcement officers.
Instead of showing remorse, the man immediately reacted with hostility when addressed by the police. He insulted the officers massively. The cause for the uninhibited behavior was quickly found: the man was under the heavy influence of alcohol. Since he could not be calmed down and continued to exhibit aggressive behavior, the officers saw no other option than to take him into custody.
Legal Classification: Not a trivial offense
Even if the value of the goods appears minimal at 99 cents, the legal situation is clear. Shoplifting remains a criminal offense, regardless of the amount of damage. In this case, the severity of the allegations is drastically increased by the behavior following the act.
The so-called “Unterbindungsgewahrsam” (preventive detention), in which the man was taken, serves to avert danger in such cases. If intoxicated persons pose an immediate threat to public safety or order – for example, through further aggression – the police may take them to a cell to sober up. This is a preventive measure and not a punishment in itself.
Conclusion and Consequences
After the 42-year-old had slept off his intoxication in a cell at the Landespolizeiinspektion, he was released. However, the legal process is only just beginning. Several investigative proceedings were initiated against the man: for shoplifting, assault (due to the fight in front of the store), and insult to the detriment of the police officers.
The incident shows once again how alcohol and a lack of impulse control can turn a triviality into a serious police matter. For the individual concerned, the 99-cent meal will likely become very expensive in hindsight.
Sources:
Original
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.