Be careful: brutal robberies on young people – police are looking for perpetrators!

Be careful: brutal robberies on young people – police are looking for perpetrators!

In Vienna, the police are dealing with a worrying case of robbery that has caused a stir in recent weeks. Three out of four suspects have already been arrested, although one suspect is still on the run. Police have released mugshots and are asking the public for help.

The brutal attacks occurred on April 20 and 21, 2025, when three perpetrators lured an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old to the Leopoldstadt and Brigittenau districts with fake social media profiles. On site, the victims were exposed to a violent threat where they had to withdraw cash under time pressure. The perpetrators used punches and kicks to enforce their demands, while also filming the attacks on their cell phones.

Injured victims and manhunt

The consequences for the two young men were serious: they suffered injuries, some of them serious, and were taken to hospital for treatment. The police have now caught three of the suspects, but the fourth man remains unknown. Information on the identity of the fleeing suspect can be reported anonymously to the police station or by calling 01 31310 67800, as vienna.at reports.

The police's current reporting statistics already show an alarming trend: the number of robbery offenses rose from 1,180 to 1,394 cases, which corresponds to an increase of 18.1%. These cases are part of a larger problem affecting Vienna's psychiatric and social landscape.

Youth crime on the rise

A look at the overall statistics also shows that more than half of the perpetrators (57.1%) come from abroad. The total number of advertisements increased by 4.6% to 194,981 in 2024. What is particularly worrying is the increase in young people committing criminal acts. Last year, 14,804 young people under the age of 18 were reported, an increase of 33%. The youngest offender was just 10 years old, and the number of suspects in the 10-14 age group increased from 3,186 to 5,066.

In order to counteract the problem of juvenile crime, an interdisciplinary working group called “Child and Youth Crime” was set up in Vienna. This is intended in particular to intensify prevention work and respond to the increasing numbers, as heute.at reports. The developments show that there is an urgent need for action in Vienna to ensure the safety of its citizens and to stop the spiral of violence.