Image: UNKNOWN (LPD SALZBURG)
A procedure that is already well known to the police. “It is actually an old phenomenon that is currently reoccurring more frequently,” said Hans-Peter Seidl from the burglary department at the Federal Criminal Police Office. “It is entirely conceivable that there is a copycat effect,” says Seidl.
It is difficult to explain the current cluster of three cases in Vienna and two in Lower Austria. “But if you see and hear that the perpetrators were always able to escape with large amounts of loot, then it is entirely possible that copycat crimes will occur.”
“Very quick method”
Such burglaries would always take place within a short period of time. “That’s a very quick method. I have the door open straight away and my getaway vehicle ready.” The approach using a car converted into a battering ram was particularly popular in earlier times. “We used to have numerous cases with large electronics store chains,” said Seidl, recalling an Austria-wide series of lightning coups in several federal states in 2015.
There have been three such break-ins in Vienna this year. On April 2nd at around 3:30 a.m., unknown people rammed a car into the window of a luxury men’s boutique in the city center and stole six-figure items of clothing. On June 20th at around 3:15 a.m., the display of a jeweler in the Donauzentrum in Vienna-Donaustadt was rammed. The last coup so far took place on Sunday around 3:30 a.m., again at the men’s outfitter in the city center. The amount of damage is again in the six-figure range. In May there were also battering ram break-ins at one jeweler in the SCS in Vösendorf and one in Baden.
In general, it is often foreign groups of perpetrators who act according to this pattern. Seidl states: “Whether I steal clothes or jewelry are two completely different qualities.” A connection between the break-ins at the jewelers and those at the men’s clothing store is therefore unlikely.
“Ladders or armchairs in the garden are almost an invitation”
Seidl also appealed to the population in the run-up to the beginning of the wedding for twilight burglars. “If you see something suspicious, don’t be afraid and call the police.” But “using common sense” is also important. “In winter you shouldn’t leave ladders or armchairs in the garden.” This is almost like an invitation to potential burglars. “There are gangs that specialize in this kind of thing, and it happens frequently, especially on the outskirts of Vienna.” Pretending to be present is “the best way” to prevent break-ins. “Lights can be controlled relatively easily with timers, and televisions can often be pre-programmed.”
According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, around 1,000 twilight attacks take place across Austria every year in the “high season” from November to January. The proportion of traveling perpetrators is particularly high in this area. “Corona showed us that,” said Seidl. “They only come to break in and then immediately flee back to their homeland,” says Seidl. These are often countries from Eastern Europe.
Two types of perpetrator groups identified
“In Vienna alone we are dealing with ten to 15 different groups of perpetrators with different compositions,” estimates Seidl. Austria is often one of the first destinations for the raid as it has its own routes.
Two types of perpetrators in particular are well known to the investigators in this context. A distinction must be made between occasional perpetrators, some of whom have a regular income, who “want to maintain their luxury,” and “professionals.” “The professional burglar sees burglary as work,” it was said. “He can’t do anything else and travels around like crazy.”
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Source: Nachrichten
