Trick thieves in Austria: million damage and older victims

Trick thieves in Austria: million damage and older victims

In the past few months, a fraudulent duo from Germany has caused a stir in several Austrian federal states. The estimated damage that the two men have done amounts to over one million euros. Most of their victims were older people who let the wrong telecommunications employees in their apartments, assuming that they would do necessary work.

The fraudulent stitch that used the two men began in the summer of 2020. By incorrect information about necessary checks or maintenance work, they managed to get into the apartments of their target persons. While one of the men distracted the residents, the other searched the living space for valuables. The state police confirm that 14 acts of the duo from the second half of 2020 could be detected.

The trace of the thefts

The investigators of the Lower Austria State Criminal Police Office have dealt intensively with the incidents. The crime scenes extend over various districts in Lower Austria, such as Melk, Mistelbach and Mödling. Thefts were also committed in the city of St. Pölten as well as in Wiener Neustadt and Krems on the Danube. In addition, the cities of Linz and Wels in Upper Austria as well as Salzburg and their surroundings were affected.

The thieves were mostly targeted by jewelry and cash, although there were also cases in which they only tried to steal the objects without being successful. However, these illegal activities did not remain unnoticed, and the authorities are now on the trail of the suspects.

arrest and legal consequences

The arrest of the two men recently came about after extensive investigations. The 36-year-old perpetrator was caught in Germany on June 28 of this year, based on an EU arrest warrant of the St. Pölten public prosecutor. After being transferred to the Austrian judiciary without statement, it remains to be seen how the case will develop. His accomplice, the 37-year-old, had already been arrested in Germany in November 2022 due to a similar offense and is in criminal offense.

The police see these two men a significant threat, especially for the vulnerable groups of society, such as older people who often become the goal of such fraud. Details on the cases determined so far and the current situation can still be found in the reporting www.vol.at .