E-scooter robbery in Vienna: 15-year-old is brutally attacked!

E-scooter robbery in Vienna: 15-year-old is brutally attacked!

Wien, Österreich - On Saturday afternoon there was a triangle of youthful relaxation and shocking incident in Vienna-Brigittenau: a 15-year-old was the victim of an e-scooter theft. The young person, who had previously been happy with his new e-scooter worth over 900 euros in Leipziger, suddenly saw himself confronted with a group of young people who talked to him on his driving skills. But the friendly banter quickly took a different turn.

A boy from the group borrowed the e-scooter and made a few laps before the mood tipped. As soon as the group moved towards Brigittafe, the 15-year-old was verbally attacked. A youth suddenly hit him in the face so that he let go of the e-scooter. In no time at all, the alleged thief grabbed the e-scooter and fled, while the other young people also searched for the width. The police were immediately informed and initiated a search.

faster use of the police

Coincidentally, the emergency services initially noticed the escape on Leipziger Platz and were able to set the alleged thief. The 15-year-old, who is Swedish citizen, initially competed in the attack. But the e-scooter was identified and returned by a serial number stored in the victim's cell phone. The Vienna public prosecutor's office decided to show him at a free foot due to the suspicion of the robbery.

The current situation is highlighting a growing problem: According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, no less than 3,233 property offenses in Austria were registered in connection with e-scooters in 2023. Over 1,500 e-scooters fell victim to simple theft, while in almost 1,500 other cases, e-scooters from secure or blocked rooms were stolen. The theft statistics clearly show that e-scooters are a popular destination for criminals due to their frequent parking in public space.

theft prevention in focus

Experts recommend a combination of different security mechanisms to minimize the risk of theft. Dr. Armin Kaltenegger, from the Board of Trustees for Road Safety, indicates that simple locks are easy to crack - a test showed that children can open a lock in just six seconds. The use of smart locks and GPS tracking systems is therefore urgently advised.

• Combination of security mechanisms (e.g. ironing lock and brake disc lock).
• Use of smart locks and GPS tracking systems.
• note the serial number and features of the scooter.
• Fuse of expensive components after parking.
• parking in locked rooms or at fixed places outdoors.

The challenges are not limited to theft: In 2023, the number of e-scooter accidents in Austria also increased by 14.1 % to 9,425. This illustrates how important it is to ensure security both in terms of both theft and in traffic. Most of these accidents under 25-year-old users were affected. The statistics show that there is not enough caution, especially in urban areas where 60 % of accidents take place.

An e-scooter can give a lot of fun, but especially for younger users is highly caution. Stay safe and protect your e-scooter well so that such incidents do not become a habit!

For more information on theft prevention and security mechanisms, visit Federal Criminal Police Office.

For more messages about e-scooter raids and traffic safety, take a look at today.at destatis.de to.