Fortunately I happened to spot a story I consider worth admitting. Unfortunately I’m not sure to pick the right words needed.

Let me explain first, that in Germany “real” arms are quite uncommon for several legal restrictions. Yet available are pistols only capable of firing blank cartridges - and I like to call that sort in this story “bobby pistol”. Designated for purposes of self defence, these bobby pistols look and “sound” like a handgun. The bursting charge even makes a fire blaze come out of the barrel – just like a handgun except there is no bullet.

Since you can’t easily judge the difference between a bobby gun and a “real” gun those bobby guns are quite often used for criminal purposes. Just like a game of good old poker it takes little talent to bluff on one side and quite some bravery on the other to call when required to bet your own life.

Now such a bobby pistol was purchased by a Otto R. (59) of Hamburg, Germany for purposes of robbing a bunch of watchman while refilling ATM’s in Berlin.

As I mentioned above, getting a firearm in Germany is very restricted by law... yet there are well known exceptions - such as police officers and of course watchman handling cash. Besides that it is known, that these watchman are equipped and required to defend theirselves when attacked.

So far you might consider the robber just plain stupid. How could he bluff security personal trained and equipped to defend against any seriously threat?

But now the nominee came up with another bright idea worth competing for a Darwin Award.

First part of the plan was to hide in complete darkness near a bank. Surprise effects are always assumed to be helpful when the going gets rough.

As soon as two of the watchman carrying steel-clad cases filled with precious euro bills went off a armored security van at about 9:30 p.m., second phase was started by our nominee.

He decided NOT to bluff at all. Regardless his insufficient arming, he straight away started a surprise attack shouting and firing his bobby gun four times at the watchman while approaching from about 10 yards out of the dark.

We never know what HE expected to happen. If he intended to surprise, impress and scare the watchman he succeeded to some extent – yet not quite in a useful way.

Beeing confronted with a criminal already shooting at them and assuming that their lives are in danger, the watchmen immediately entered the supposed gunfight. Unlike four shots out of a bobby gun, the nine shots returning were capable of doing serious harm – and did. Being shot in legs and heart the nominee died on the scene.

Needless to mention, that another watchman was still inside the van and all watchman wore bullet-proof vests.

Now – just to make sure you don’t believe that was a broken-hearted clumsy fellow just taking his last chance:

The same guy had tried to rob a armored security van on december 29, 1994. Accomplished by his brother he captured about 400.000 Euros – but the brother got captured inside the security van too. The vehicle driver went for a turn to the local police station, delivering the suspect literally caught in the act. Otto R. remained in the getaway car with all of the big haul – except for the fact that he had never been taught to operate a vehicle properly. Driving just should have been done by his brother – the one who took off involuntarily in the security van instead of the getaway car. Overwhelmed by that situation the nominee not only left the haul behind, but his jacket too.

A second attempt on march 29, 2000 failed as well. While attempting to rob a bank he got overwhelmed by a customer and handed over to police again. Just a year after serving 2/3 of his 8 year, 6 month sentence he came up with that idea of robbing using a bobby pistol to rob the watchman.

It occurs to me, he somehow remembered the saying: “don’t bring a knife to a gunfight” – yet he never got the point…

The story in Berlin newspapers, and
Another Story from Berlin

(in Germany unfortunately they don't announce the full name of a criminal)

Submitted on 03/06/2007

Submitted by: Peter Bellmann
Reference: www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/archiv/11.11.2006/2892031.asp

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
A fine example of Once a Fool, Always a Fool! I like this one very much and vote this intrepid fellow the coveted Darwin Award. Thanks for sending this one, Peter

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Unlike most "dumb crook" stories we get, this is a tale of a fellow who is determined to "off" himself! A fellow who served time and STILL doesn't get it! Couldn't he just have gotten a job or something? Anyway, he's no longer society's problem! A good write-up, too! I'll vote to keep this one! Thanks, Peter!

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