Three arrests after spectacular chase in Gmunden!

Three arrests after spectacular chase in Gmunden!

In the night of Friday, May 16, 2025, a spectacular ATM occurred in Gmunden, Upper Austria. The perpetrators, a total of four in number, committed the robbery at 2:45 a.m. in the branch of a shopping center, whereby they have so far remained unknown about the background and motivations. After the explosion, they fled with a stolen VW Tiguan who had previously been stolen from a Maturant. The police were informed directly about the extremely dangerous situation and sent emergency services to persecute the fleeting perpetrators.

The chase began at 11:30 p.m. in Linz and led over the A7 and A1, while the fleeing speeds of up to 260 km/h reached. This breakneck persecution ended at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday at a roundabout, where the suspects were involved in a traffic accident. Three of the four suspects, aged 35 and 36, were arrested in the Marktl area on Sunday night. In this turbulent situation, the fleeing perpetrators sometimes suffered serious injuries.

the escape and the arrests

The clever car of the perpetrators was found on Friday evening in Aichkirchen near Lambach in full fire. The car was originally given with Gmundner license plates, but the perpetrators had exchanged them for Dutch license plates. Witnesses reported an aggressive attempt to rob, in which the four men threatened three young women and a high school graduate with a knife to get to the car.

such as [Kleinezeitung.at] (https://www.kleinezeitung.at/oesterreich/19698782/bankomatspregung-in-gmunden-drei-da-da- in-Bayern-festival) reported, the arrested on Sunday were on the road with a rented vehicle. While the police continue to search for the fourth suspect, the investigation into the exact processes of the robbery and the background of the perpetrators are underway.

crime in Austria in view

This violent ATM is part of a larger trend in Austria in which crime increases. Around 528,000 crimes were reported in 2023, the highest status since 2016. According to Statista, around 186,000 of these cases were in Vienna. In addition, an increase in economic and cybercrime was recorded, which also burdens the security situation in the country. 85% of Austrians are calling for increased combating of crime problems, including Islamist terror.

The current situation illustrates the challenges in front of which the security forces are facing. Despite the arrests and ongoing investigations, the general crime rate remains an important topic that concerns both the public and politics.