20-year-old accomplice of ATM bombers: Court imposes imprisonment!

20-year-old accomplice of ATM bombers: Court imposes imprisonment!

According to a ruling by the regional criminal court, a 20-year-old woman from Vienna has to be imprisoned because she joined forces with a gang of ATM burglars. On Monday she was sentenced to 24 months in prison, of which she only has to serve five months. The judgment is not yet legally binding courier reported. This conviction is part of a larger problem that has been plaguing Austria for some time: ATM blasts, which have increased sharply in recent years.

The young woman got involved with the gang to help her mother with financial difficulties that arose after a divorce. On January 14th she met a criminal from the ATM busting gang, which consists of Dutch people with a Moroccan background. This group specializes in blowing up ATMs all over Europe and acts extremely professionally and quickly. Their actions usually only last a few minutes, like this one Pulse24 analyzed. It appears she has fallen into a network that needs local helpers to provide logistical expertise and getaway drivers.

From complicity to arrest

An inconspicuous start to a criminal career. The 20-year-old was hired to rent two cars and provide driving services, for which she was promised a salary of between 10,000 and 15,000 euros. Ultimately, however, she only earned 2,000 euros, and most of the money went to recover a vehicle. On January 21, five members of the gang blew up four ATMs in the Alt-Erlaa Kaufpark in Liesing, causing damage of 1.3 million euros, while the loot amounted to around 90,000 euros.

The escape was turbulent and ended on scooters, which were later confiscated. A Golf planned for the escape was also not approved for trips abroad. In order to escape the gang's pressure, the young woman eventually gave her getaway vehicle, a car belonging to her mother, to the gang. Through cell phone analysis, investigators were able to uncover a lively exchange between the woman and the arrested gang members. Her arrest finally followed on March 14th.

A dark network

The authority has launched the “Soko ATM” to combat the increase in crimes like this Small newspaper reported. This specific group of bank robbers has now become established across Europe, with 18 explosions recorded in Austria so far in 2025 alone, compared to 13 in the whole of 2024. It is believed that the perpetrators are often involved in the “Mocro-Mafia”, an organization with strong roots in the drug business.

The perpetrators' approach is consistently precise and well thought out. They use modern tactics such as the use of pyrotechnics and highly powered getaway vehicles that can reach speeds of over 200 km/h. These groups are extremely well organized, consisting of 20 to 100 members and have specialized logisticians who scout escape routes in order to outwit the police.

The woman now not only has to serve a prison sentence, but also undergo anti-violence training. The verdict could also have an impact on further investigations into those around her who are involved in the machinations of the Dutch ATM burglars. These developments make people sit up and take notice and make it clear how important it is to break through the structures of such criminal networks.