MAASTRICHT/HEERLEN - Eighteen months were demanded against a 25-year-old Heerlen man yesterday in the Maastricht District Court, six of them on probation, for the notorious robbery of jeweler Jambroers in Vrieheide.

The robbery on November 1 did not go unnoticed in the Heerlen neighborhood of Vrieheide. Scooting youths had taken over the pursuit of jewelerJambroers outside, after he had fallen down in the street. Robber M.E. (25) managed to escape via sports fields and had then run to his mother, he stated in court yesterday. There he had changed his clothes. His mother was later very shocked when she saw images of him on TV. E. turned himself in. He had consumed many "half liters of beer" when he came to his act. Because E. said he had been referred by another jeweler, Jambroers, who always had the door locked, let him in. There he gave the jeweler a shove and made off with jewelry. The shopkeeper fell into a display case and was injured.

Prosecutor Martin Scharenborg deemed theft by force proven, but questioned the sentencing and personal circumstances. Things went from bad to worse with the young Heerlen resident in recent years. He started drinking and occasionally used cocaine. Eventually, he had lost his job, his girl and his home and sometimes stayed overnight in day and night shelters.

Lawyer Serge Weening stated that not before had a jeweler been robbed with so little violence and without weapons in the Netherlands. The officer considered the facts serious enough to demand eighteen months in prison, six of which were suspended. Normally such a robbery with violence on a jeweler stands for two to three years, he said. In addition, E. had generously expressed regret; albeit emphatically not to his victim, but only in a letter to the court. He also announced his intention to pay damages if he regained work in construction.

The jeweler's claim for damages of 18,000 euros was declared inadmissible because the substantiation was too summary. The officer did want E. to be deprived of the proceeds of the robbery, 2,400 euros. Verdict in March.

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