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Robbery attacks: e-scooters and backpacks in demand in Vienna!
Robbery cases in Vienna: Perpetrators stole fanny packs, backpacks and e-scooters. Police are appealing for witnesses to provide information about the incidents.
Robbery attacks: e-scooters and backpacks in demand in Vienna!
There have been several incidents of robbery and theft in Vienna in recent days, which have attracted the attention of the authorities. A 33-year-old man on Perfectastrasse was the victim of a robbery in which a fanny pack containing a cell phone and a wallet was stolen. After the crime, the perpetrators left in an unknown direction shortly before midnight. The victim suffered minor injuries, but received help from the Vienna emergency services on site and was then taken to hospital. The investigation was taken over by the Vienna State Criminal Police Office, South Branch. Witnesses are asked to contact police; Tips can be given anonymously, as Kleine Zeitung reported.
Another incident occurred at Leipziger Platz, where a 15-year-old boy was also the victim of a robbery. There, a group of his peers observed the young person driving his e-scooter, worth over 900 euros. A member of the group borrowed the scooter under the pretense of going for a ride and drove off with it. After insults and a punch, the boy gave up the scooter, whereupon the perpetrator fled. The police were later able to stop the suspected perpetrator, a 15-year-old Swede, at Leipziger Platz. The e-scooter could be identified thanks to its serial number, but the accused did not confess during his first interrogation.
Robbery attacks in Vienna
In a further escalation of youth crime, there was an attempted theft in the Mariahilf district on Sunday night. A group of friends were sitting in Fritz Imhoff Park around midnight when they were harassed by two unknown men, one of the perpetrators wearing a balaclava. An 18-year-old Serbian citizen then grabbed a friend's backpack. The group was able to detain the perpetrator and a scuffle ensued, during which the perpetrator punched a 27-year-old victim in the face and kicked him. The police arrested the alleged perpetrator a short time later. The balaclava was found during a search and a 33-year-old accomplice was also identified. Both suspects were charged with attempted robbery while the victim required emergency care for his facial injuries.
Context of crime in Austria
The increase in such attacks comes in the context of a rising crime rate in Austria. Around 528,000 crimes were reported in 2023, which is the highest level since 2016. In Vienna alone, there were more than 186,000 crimes, including around 85,400 thefts, which is the highest number in the country's history. The figures on foreign crime are also alarming: in 2022, 43% of suspects and convicted people were foreigners. This leads to a feeling of insecurity among the population, with 70% of Austrians believing that immigrants exacerbate crime problems, as Statista notes.
In view of this development, 85% of those surveyed affirm the desire for a stronger fight against Islamist terror, while trust in the police stands at 77%. The police show a clearance rate of 52.3%, which represents a minimal increase compared to the previous year. Such statistics highlight the challenges faced by security authorities and the need for a comprehensive approach to combating crime in Austria.