15-year-old attacked in Guben – teenagers caught in Cottbus!

15-year-old attacked in Guben – teenagers caught in Cottbus!

On Sunday evening, November 3rd, 2025, a 15-year-old was the victim of a robbery in Guben. The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. on Corona-Schröter-Straße, where the perpetrators demanded the handover of the cell phone, cash and even some items of clothing under threat of violence. But that wasn't the end; The four young people between the ages of 14 and 16 fled with the loot and left the injured party behind.

However, the excitement quickly came to an end. Only a short time later, the suspects were arrested on a train to Cottbus, which the police confirmed in their statement. During their check in Cottbus, the police also seized some of the stolen goods. What is particularly striking is that three of the suspects had previously been abducted from facilities in the Elbe-Elster district.

Investigations and backgrounds

The police have taken over the investigation into the crime and the circumstances of the attack. However, there is currently no evidence of anyone else involved or crime scenes, which initially calms the situation. The officers are also investigating a possible connection to similar attacks that have taken place recently. It remains to be seen whether these incidents turn out to be part of a larger pattern.

If you look at the broad issue of juvenile crime in Germany, you can see a worrying trend. Violence among young people reached a peak in 2024 with around 13,800 cases. This number is more than twice as high as in 2016, studies show. The increase in youth violence among 14 to 17 year olds and adolescents between 18 and 20 years of age is particularly worrying, with the psychological stress resulting from the Corona measures also being mentioned as possible influencing factors.

The role of prevention

There is an intensive discussion in society about the appropriate measures to combat youth violence. Some are calling for harsher punishments in the juvenile justice system, while others are placing more emphasis on prevention through child and youth welfare services. The fact is that the majority of young suspects are male, which underlines the role of traditional gender images and learned behavior in this issue. This balance between punitive and preventive measures will be crucial for the future of our young people to prevent criminal careers.

The recent incidents in Guben shed light on the local situation and illustrate how important it is to treat young offenders appropriately. It remains to be hoped that the ongoing investigations will quickly bring clarity and that long-term solutions will be found to reduce youth crime.

For further details on the events in Guben, please read the reporting on Niederlausitz Current. Further statistics on juvenile crime are available Statista.