Serial burglar caught in Vienna: damage over 600,000 euros!

Serial burglar caught in Vienna: damage over 600,000 euros!

Officials in Vienna recently caught a serial burglar who wreaked havoc on the households of the older generation between 2019 and 2025. The suspected 49-year-old Romanian is accused of specifically approaching senior citizens and stealing their keys when leaving their homes or in front of shops. He caused total damage of over 600,000 euros, which was reflected in stolen cash, jewelry and gold coins, such as Small newspaper reported.

The man's arrest took place this week in the Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus district after the Vienna State Criminal Police Office, supported by the Federal Criminal Police Office, carried out intensive investigations. It turned out that the suspect does not have a permanent residence in Austria and already has a criminal record. In two cases there were physical altercations with the victims, but fortunately no one was injured.

Burglars were targeted

The serial burglar demonstrated a perfidious approach by approaching older people in seemingly harmless situations. Hardly anyone can escape this behavior, and it is especially necessary to be vigilant in such a sensitive area. The police are therefore calling on possible additional victims or witnesses to come forward in order to provide further information. Especially since a Bosnian citizen caught six months ago with a similar scam has no connection to this case, it is clear that there may be more such perpetrators.

In view of the alarming figures on burglary crime, which are also reported by SaferCity are discussed, the incident is not an isolated case. Burglaries pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of many people. Prevention measures are therefore of great importance.

Focus on prevention

The police give valuable tips on how to be better protected in the future. This includes creating property records and keeping valuables safe. Mechanical and electronic security measures such as door and window locks or alarm systems increase the risk that burglars will be discovered. A change in behavior can also have a preventative effect: for example, properly locking doors and windows or using presence simulations through intelligent lighting.

At a time when the clearance rate for burglaries is increasing, but the number of cases is falling in certain regions, the police, politicians and citizens must work together to find solutions to counteract burglary crime. The incident in Vienna-Hietzing shows how unfortunate it can be when the sense of security at home is severely impaired by such acts. As the My district of Vienna reported, it remains to be seen what further measures the police will take in the future to protect citizens.