Men sentenced to up to 14 years for multi-million euro cash transport robbery

A Berlin court has sentenced three men to lengthy prison terms for their involvement in a brazen armed robbery of a cash-in-transit vehicle in March 2025, which netted the perpetrators approximately 2.4 million euros. The sentences, ranging from two and a half to 14 years, reflect the severity of the crimes, which included attempted murder and aggravated robbery.

The most severe sentence, 14 years, was given to a 22-year-old man who used a military-grade assault rifle during the heist. The court determined he fired at the vehicle's windshield without direct line of sight, acting out of greed and accepting the risk of killing the occupants. Another defendant, aged 21, received a six-and-a-half-year sentence for aggravated robbery under juvenile law, while a 26-year-old was sentenced to two and a half years for aiding and abetting.

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targeted shots at the windshield

During the trial, the court heard how the robbers used a car with flashing lights to force the cash transport to stop. The 22-year-old then sprayed black paint on the windshield before firing. Other accomplices blocked and broke into the vehicle, stealing 26 of the 107 cash cassettes. The perpetrators set one of their getaway vehicles on fire before fleeing in another.

Despite the substantial loot, the robbers did not get far. Police recovered the getaway car, weapons, and the stolen money on a commercial property in Berlin-Neukölln shortly after the incident. The defendants were arrested about two months later. A fourth suspect was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The verdict, delivered after 32 trial days, was met with disturbances in the courtroom, as several individuals hurled insults at the court and were escorted out by bailiffs. The ruling is not yet legally final.

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acted out of greed and accepted the possibility of killing.