(jd) Residents of Weihestraße heard a loud bang at around 3.00 a.m. on Wednesday night (10.7.). When they looked outside to see the cause, they noticed two men at a cigarette vending machine. The machine was badly damaged and the residents immediately called the police. The police officers, who arrived a few minutes later, noticed two people running across a pedestrian walkway to Wibbeltstraße. Neither responded to the officers' request to stop, but instead got on two bicycles that were parked on Wibbeltstraße and rode off in the direction of Tichelbrink. There, the officers were able to arrest one of the two men.

He is a 37-year-old from Löhn. The second suspect left his bike behind and tried to flee through neighboring gardens. The officers also managed to apprehend him on a piece of land. The second person is a 40-year-old man from Bad Oeynhausen. Both were temporarily taken into police custody in Herford.

The men were found to have various tools, as well as irritant gases and knives. All items were seized by the officers. The vending machine was damaged to the tune of at least three figures. Among other things, the suspects broke the control unit out of the vending machine housing. The 37 and 40-year-old men now face charges of aggravated gang theft and causing an explosive device to explode.