Shock in Upper Austria: Young people aim with pistols on passers -by!

Shock in Upper Austria: Young people aim with pistols on passers -by!

In the Upper Austrian district of Schärding, an incident caused excitement when young people aimed at passers -by on April 12, 2025. A witness filed a complaint around 3:40 p.m., which led to an extensive search for the police. According to 5min , the alleged offense, consisting of an 18-year-old passenger and a 16-year-old, were sitting in a car who Paschinger Straße moved towards Hitzing.

The fast reaction of the police led the vehicle to be stopped in Pupping in the Eferding district. All four occupants had to leave the car and were temporarily arrested. When searching the vehicle, the police found a toy gun, which is why the suspects are to be reported to the Linz public prosecutor's office due to a dangerous threat.

background to juvenile crime

such incidents throw a light on the current situation of youth crime in Austria. Statistics show that the majority of young people who become delinquent usually only commits light criminal offenses. As bp.de , juvenile delinquency is mostly a male phenomenon, whereby up to 70% of the pupils have become punishable in the past 12 months. Most adolescents stop dilquating and are usually more often victims than perpetrators of violence.

The Coco study shows that 84% of boys and 69% of girls between the ages of 13 and 18 became delinquent at least once. In comparison, the current relevant data shows that the number of serious youth crime has generally declined in recent years. Nevertheless, such incidents are worrying in Upper Austria because they influence the social perception of youth delinquency.

police measures and social reactions

The police reaction to the incident in Upper Austria shows that the authorities are decisive against such incidents. The use of several police patrols to arrest the suspects underlines the seriousness of the situation. The notification and the factors that drive young people to crime are of great interest in research and public discussion.

The social perception of youth crime is often critically expressed, with crime being often interpreted as a social phenomenon. According to orf.at it is important to also consider the social and cultural backgrounds that can lead to such incidents. Prevention through social integration is seen as a crucial approach to sustainably reduce youth crime and support endangered young people.