The Bochum police caused a stir with an unusual press release: "An open letter to a very, very lousy thief," she headed the report on Thursday.
So she turned to a stranger who is said to have stolen from a disabled senior citizen in Witten.
According to the authority, the letter generated an echo of helpfulness.
Now there should be a donation account for the almost 90-year-old who was stolen.
The Bochum police directly addressed the suspected trickster, who is said to have pulled his pension of more than 1000 euros from the senior's pocket, in the letter and literally insulted: "Do you know that you even lack the 'crook's honor'?" Or " You should be ashamed of yourself!".
Many media picked up the story, a Cologne tabloid newspaper even as the headline on the front page.
This apparently led to great sympathy among the population: "The willingness to support the senior has made us speechless," said the police.
You have received numerous emails.
However, it is important to the authority "to put the willingness to help on a serious footing".
The police themselves are not allowed to accept or forward donations.
We are therefore in talks with several organizations "and are confident that we will be able to name a donation account in the coming week".
Icon: The mirror
bbr / dpa
