Lonely and tied up: Shocking home invasion in Upper Austria!

Lonely and tied up: Shocking home invasion in Upper Austria!

On December 22, 2024, an 85-year-old woman was the victim of a brutal home invasion in her own home. The police announced this in an official statement. The terrible crime occurred in the evening hours when the elderly woman had just taken her garbage into the garage. Suddenly she was forced into her house by a masked stranger, tied up with cable ties and forcefully forced to hand over cash. Despite the threat, the woman managed to make the perpetrator believe that she had no more money or a safe, but the perpetrator eventually found the safe, which only contained jewelry. This remained untouched by the perpetrator. After the crime, he left the old lady locked in the toilet and sprayed the interior with the contents of two fire extinguishers before running away. The woman suffered minor injuries, but was able to free herself and alert the police.

Victim protection and support

Such poignant incidents highlight the need for comprehensive victim protection. The Federal Police's recommendations are clear: Victims of crimes should report the crime immediately in order to hold the perpetrators accountable and prevent future crimes. The Federal Police emphasizes that those affected by crimes, like the 85-year-old woman, have specific rights that enable them to receive support through the criminal proceedings and beyond. Information about your rights and access to help and support services are available and provided by victim protection officers at all police stations. There are specially set up contact points at train stations for women affected by violence that offer help around the clock. The Federal Police recommends always contacting the police in emergencies and using the emergency number on 110 to ensure quick help bundespolizei.de reported.