In the fall of 1976, the show jumper Hendrik Snoek was kidnapped in Münster.
The son of a wealthy family was hidden in a shaft under a bridge near Herborn.
He was locked up for 50 days with a chain around his neck.
The perpetrators extorted a ransom of five million marks.
Snoek was released.
It was not the only kidnapping case during this time.
Many criminals put people in fear by extorting ransom money.