Aggressive burglar in Ottakring: Police intervene!

Aggressive burglar in Ottakring: Police intervene!

On July 14, 2025, something unusual moved in a garden hut in the Ottakring district. There a 31-year-old German broke the wooden door-not to protect the property, but to fall asleep. This unexpected incident ended with a violent exchange of blows when the police had to intervene. The officers of the Brunnengasse police inspection became aware of the man and spoke to him. But instead of a friendly answer, the man reacted aggressively and attacked the police with punches. These did not be asked for long and used physical strength to overwhelm and arrest the man.

After his interrogation, the German was finally set up at the order of the Vienna public prosecutor. It is not the first time that such incidents occur in Vienna. As early as 2023, there was a significant increase in crime, with around 528,000 criminal offenses, the highest value since 2016. Particularly noticeable: Over a third of these offenses were in Vienna, where around 85,400 publicly respected offenses were registered in the same year.

The background of crime in Vienna

As an analysis of crime statistics shows, foreign crime plays a not inconsiderable role. Statista reports that around 43 % of the suspects and convicted foreigners were in 2022, and they also made up 58 % among the newly detained. The most common countries of origin are Romania, Germany and Serbia. These statistics contribute to the general uncertainty: Around 70 % of Austrians believe that immigrants tighten crime problems.

Even in the area of drug crime, an increase is evident. Around 35,400 crimes were reported in 2023, with Vienna being at the top with around 9,960 cases. Here cannabis is the most frequently related wing. Despite the increasing figures, 50 % of Austrians support legalization of cannabis, which shows that public opinion is split in this area.

trust in the police

The situation around crime also has an impact on the trust of the population in the police and judiciary. According to a survey from the spring of 2024, 77 % of the Austrian population have confidence in the police, while 72 % of the judicial respondents trust. This trust seems particularly important in times of increasing crime in order to be successful in combating crimes. The police information rate was 52.3 %in 2023, which represents a slight increase compared to the previous year, but the challenges remain great.

The incident in the garden hut is just another example of the complex challenges with which the security forces are confronted in Vienna. In an urban space in which not only everyday life, but also criminal activities are very popular, it remains to be seen how the situation is developing and what measures are initiated to combat these trends.

5min.at reports about the incident and the following measures, while ORF Vienna provide a comprehensive overview of the crime situation. You can also find a detailed analysis of the crime statistics on Statista that offer interesting insights into developments in recent years.