Hardware store theft in Vienna: perpetrator caught with manslaughter!

Hardware store theft in Vienna: perpetrator caught with manslaughter!

An unusual incident occurred in a hardware store in the 10th district of Vienna-Favoriten on Thursday afternoon that attracted the attention of the police. A store detective observed a suspected theft duo, consisting of a man and a woman, attempting to leave the store with items taken. The detective acted quickly and immediately alerted the police.

When the officers arrived, the suspects were already in the checkout area. When the 28-year-old man was searched, the police found a manslaughter, which not only confirmed the suspicion of theft, but also put him in the crossfire for a weapons offense. The manslaughter, a prohibited weapon according to the weapons law, was seized.

Legal consequences and presumption of innocence

Both suspects were temporarily arrested by the police and are now facing charges of attempted theft and weapons offenses. However, in an initial decision by the public prosecutor's office, they were released, even if they were reported for the incident. The presumption of innocence applies until the exact circumstances of the theft and weapons offense are clarified.

This incident sheds light on the current challenges facing retailers in Austria. According to a recent Safety study by the trade association, which was published together with the BMI and crime prevention, 86% of Austrian retailers have experienced crime in their business. What is particularly frightening is that 42% of these retailers have already been affected several times.

The number of unreported cases of shoplifting

In Austria, shoplifting causes over 500 million euros in damage every year, which corresponds to more than 0.6% of total retail sales. This shows that there is an urgent need for action when it comes to security. Many retailers rely on preventive measures, of which 53% consider the closure of operating rooms necessary, while 41% rely on video surveillance. The automatism of these measures reflects the fundamental challenges of retail.

The incident at the hardware store is not just an isolated case, but part of a larger problem that retailers are responding to by implementing protective measures. As the security study also shows, many business owners are of the opinion that a designated contact person for the police would be very helpful.

In summary, this incident shows that security in retail is a highly topical issue, which is further exacerbated by increasing cases of theft and weapons offenses. The investigation into this particular case is ongoing and could shed more light on the matter.