New scandal: 15-year-old prisoner with over 200 ads in court!

New scandal: 15-year-old prisoner with over 200 ads in court!

Linz, Österreich - A 15-year-old prisoner from Linz is at the center of intensive investigations. The young person, who has already recorded over 200 advertisements, including heavy robbery and burglary, was sentenced to two years in prison after his 14th birthday. After 14 months in prison, he was released in November 2024, but was taken into custody again. In April 2025 he had to answer for alleged car theft.

The incident, which is now in the focus of the public prosecutor, occurred on the night of February 10, when the prisoner together with a accomplice stole a car in Liezen. The duo drove the stolen vehicle first to Upper Austria and then on to Vienna, where they were stopped by the police. He is accused of attempted heavy robbery and severe theft, which could lead to a possible prison sentence of up to seven and a half years. The process at the Steyr Regional Court was initially postponed while the investigation continues.

renewed allegations

In addition to the ongoing procedures, the young person is also suspected of harassing a fellow inmate in the Linz prison in March 2025 in order to force him to act for sexual acts. However, the alleged victim was able to defend himself and the incident was immediately reported to the judiciary. The management of the Linz judicial institution informed the responsible authorities, and investigations into attempted rape, coercion and dangerous threats were initiated. Both the adolescent and his supposed accomplice deny these accusations, the presumption of innocence applies.

The current situation of the 15-year-old reflects an alarming development in juvenile crime, which has recorded a worrying increase in recent years. According to current reports, the number of ads around 10 to 14 year olds rose from 6,311 in 2014 to 9,730 in 2023.

youth crime in focus

The government has launched an interministerial working group to combat youth crime, which was set up on March 7, 2024 and led by Dieter CSEFAN, Federal Coordinator of the Areas of Jugend. The focus is on minor intensive offenders who are often responsible for crimes such as robbery and theft. In Vienna, for example, around 500 students are suspended every year due to violent behavior, a trend that becomes a worrying trend.

In addition, the police find that under-14-year-olds are increasingly being used for criminal activities such as car break-ins and drug trafficking. This situation is tightened by social media that offer a platform for provocations and the spread of depictions of violence. Robbery is frequent crimes in which the victims are often defenseless. Especially in Vienna, increasingly problems with youth gangs are being reported to fight for supremacy in parks.

The authorities have recognized that increased police presence is necessary and that the youth crime group has been active since March 2024. There are also initiatives such as the "Under18" project, which will focus on prevention among young people in 2025. The case of the 15-year-old is therefore only a small piece of the puzzle in a larger, alarming context that urgently requires solutions.

Society faces the challenge of understanding the causes of this rapid development and establishing suitable measures to prevent youth crime. Further information on these topics can be found at bmi.gv.at and 5min.at .