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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

”Grandpa Gang” trial for bank heists starts

Associated Press

HAGEN, Germany – Three elderly men who have been dubbed the “Grandpa Gang” went on trial Tuesday, accused of robbing 14 German banks and getting away with more than $1.3 million over the course of 16 years.

As the trial opened in the western city of Hagen, Rudolf Richter, 74, and Wilfried Ackermann, 73, admitted to participating in the robberies. The third defendant, Lothar Ackermann, 64, who is not related to Wilfried, remained silent.

The three could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of armed robbery.

The men are accused of robbing their first bank in December 1988 in Leopoldshoehe, stealing $77,700. They are accused of later robbing banks in other cities in northern and western Germany – allegedly taking their largest haul of $334,000 from a bank in Loehne-Halstern.

The two older men met while in prison on separate bank robbery charges, and after their release began meeting with their 64-year-old acquaintance annually to discuss robbery plans, Wilfried Ackermann testified.

Wilfried Ackermann was afraid of going into a rest home and hoped to save up enough money to buy himself a home in Bielefeld, he said. “But, that’s not an excuse,” he told the court.

He testified that the group used to wait until shortly before closing time to enter the banks, because fewer customers were likely to be there. They were armed with handguns and automatic weapons, and sometimes with fake hand grenades, provided by Richter, he said.

Richter acknowledged that he took part, but denied leading the group. He testified he was falsely imprisoned for bank robbery the first time around, and when he got out decided he was owed.

He thought: “Now, I’ll make up for it,” he told the court.