14-year-old broke into numerous cars in Vienna – police on the trail!

14-year-old broke into numerous cars in Vienna – police on the trail!

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 25, 2025, a 14-year-old caused a stir in Vienna-Meidling. Police were alerted after witnesses observed the teenager driving a damaged car that was being driven unsafely. The worrying situation was confirmed on site: the vehicle had found an awkward place on the sidewalk and when the officers arrived, the boy got out and was immediately stopped.

The subsequent investigation revealed a disturbing pattern. The teenager confessed to breaking the side window of the car and using a key from the glove compartment to start the car. When asked, the 14-year-old said he had already broken into numerous other vehicles to steal more keys. His actions appear to be part of a larger criminal series in which he, along with at least two accomplices, is believed to be responsible for 40 to 50 car break-ins in the city. The crownreported that during the search of the young person, cash amounting to around 2,300 euros, two knives, pepper spray, various tobacco products and a damaged garage opener were seized.

Investigations and allegations

But the case raises more than just questions about individual crimes. The 14-year-old is now being charged with property damage, but as the police discovered, many of their reports of this property damage were still floating around. This cluster of incidents suggests that the boy did not act alone. Despite the search and arrest, the teenager did not provide any information about his alleged accomplices. The investigators are calling on the public to submit information about the two unknown suspects to the LKA on 01/31310-57800. The ORFhas also delved into the details of the incident and draws parallels with a growing tendency among young people to take part in criminal activities.

The issue of juvenile crime is not a new one in Austria or Germany. Statistics show that juvenile crime in Germany reached a peak of around 13,800 cases in 2024, which is more than twice as high as in 2016. Psychological stress, perhaps also caused by the Corona measures, are often cited as factors for the increase in this problem. Statistahighlights that this phenomenon is increasing among young people aged between 14 and 17 and that men under the age of 21 are drastically more likely to be convicted.

Impact on society

The need to effectively combat youth crime is urgent. Measures ranging from tougher sanctions to preventative approaches are constantly being discussed. In the discussion about the appropriate design of juvenile criminal law, more and more emphasis is being placed on stronger prevention, particularly through child and youth welfare. This is not only for the good of society, but also to protect the young people who have slipped away, who often just need a nudge out of their usual path to break out of a criminal path.

The events in Vienna-Meidling are another example of the challenges that cities and societies have to overcome today. How to counteract these trends and what role the community plays in this remains a central question for the future.