Apologetic thief nabbed by police mid-robbery
A man from southern Sweden was apprehended by police after trying to rob a Seven Eleven store with a knife and a handwritten note, apologizing in advance for any inconvenience.
The man, reportedly in his forties, told the court that he had been depressed, recently got divorced and was feeling rather worse for wear.
On top of that he had run up some gambling debts.
He desperately needed 12,000 kronor ($1,800) and was worried that a relative, from whom he had borrowed money, would get into trouble, and that he himself would lose his flat, according to local paper Skånskan.
As the day rent was due approached, the man grew increasingly worried and penned a note saying:
”Hello! This is a robbery! Don't panic, I am not going to hurt you. Just do what I say! Put 12,000 kronor in the bag. I want no more than that! I am really sorry about this!”
After writing the note, the man got on a random train, and subsequently got off at Lund train station.
There he hid the knife in the sleeve of his coat, and when he spotted a Seven Eleven store close to the station he decided to take his chances.
In the shop, the man started feeling nervous and decided a snack might help. He purchased a hot dog to calm his nerves.
Though he was agonizing about what he was about to do, he felt he had to go through with it.
At first, staff thought he was joking, but the man was adamant that he was serious and that he had a weapon.
Several staff members came over and read the note. When they realised it was for real they became frightened, according to Skånskan.
However, staff managed to press the alarm button several times during the exchange.
Police arrived shortly after and were able to arrest the man on the spot without any violence.
The district court in Lund decided that despite the normal sentence for the offence being 6 months imprisonment, the extenuating circumstances in this particular case meant that it was more appropriate to sentence the apologetic robber to probation.
The man, who didn't have a previous criminal history, said during the trial that he always expected to be stopped by police.
As part of his sentence the court ruled that the man will undergo treatment for his mental problems, according to Skånskan.
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The man, reportedly in his forties, told the court that he had been depressed, recently got divorced and was feeling rather worse for wear.
On top of that he had run up some gambling debts.
He desperately needed 12,000 kronor ($1,800) and was worried that a relative, from whom he had borrowed money, would get into trouble, and that he himself would lose his flat, according to local paper Skånskan.
As the day rent was due approached, the man grew increasingly worried and penned a note saying:
”Hello! This is a robbery! Don't panic, I am not going to hurt you. Just do what I say! Put 12,000 kronor in the bag. I want no more than that! I am really sorry about this!”
After writing the note, the man got on a random train, and subsequently got off at Lund train station.
There he hid the knife in the sleeve of his coat, and when he spotted a Seven Eleven store close to the station he decided to take his chances.
In the shop, the man started feeling nervous and decided a snack might help. He purchased a hot dog to calm his nerves.
Though he was agonizing about what he was about to do, he felt he had to go through with it.
At first, staff thought he was joking, but the man was adamant that he was serious and that he had a weapon.
Several staff members came over and read the note. When they realised it was for real they became frightened, according to Skånskan.
However, staff managed to press the alarm button several times during the exchange.
Police arrived shortly after and were able to arrest the man on the spot without any violence.
The district court in Lund decided that despite the normal sentence for the offence being 6 months imprisonment, the extenuating circumstances in this particular case meant that it was more appropriate to sentence the apologetic robber to probation.
The man, who didn't have a previous criminal history, said during the trial that he always expected to be stopped by police.
As part of his sentence the court ruled that the man will undergo treatment for his mental problems, according to Skånskan.
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