Crime of Passion

Tom Mueller, from Eisingen, was desperate for his 30-year-old colleague to fancy him but thought he didn't stand a chance. So he hatched a hair-brained scheme involving a fake kidnap plot to try and woo her.

The love-struck banker allegedly broke into Tanja Schulze's home in the middle of the night wearing a mask and told her – in English, to disguise his identity – that he was the boss of a ruthless kidnap gang.

Mueller then allegedly tied her up and put a bag on her head while he ransacked her home for four hours. He then rang the doorbell, ripped off his mask, and rushed into the house to rescue her claiming he'd frightened off the gang.

The idea was that Tanja would fall into her hero's arms out of gratitude and form an everlasting bond of love with her savior.

Unfortunately, police say they later found Miss Schulze's purse --supposedly stolen by the gang -- in Mueller's pocket.

Now, instead of facing a lifetime of bliss with the object of his desire, the hapless Romeo could be looking forward to a few years behind bars on kidnapping, unlawful entry, and theft charges.