A holiday apartment in the Waldviertel municipality of Heidenreichstein (Gmünd district) also served as a loot storage facility for a couple. According to police reports, a 27-year-old and a 31-year-old, both from the Czech Republic, were arrested on Wednesday following numerous crimes in Lower and Upper Austria. The duo is said to be primarily responsible for burglaries in the Waldviertel and Linz. The damage caused amounts to around 60,000 euros.
The accused were arrested in the rented apartment in Heidenreichstein on February 8th as a result of investigations by the Lower Austria State Criminal Police Office. Numerous stolen items were seized in the premises as well as in the vehicle used by the couple.
Prohibited weapons and money laundering
The investigators ultimately charged the duo with, among other things, 14 completed and six attempted burglaries (mainly in basements and company vehicles), one attempted robbery and one count of serious theft, one break-in into a residential building, as well as carrying prohibited weapons (batons, stun guns) and money laundering following. Crime scenes were located in several communities in the Waldviertel districts of Horn, Gmünd, Waidhofen ad Thaya and Zwettl as well as in the city of Linz.
According to the police, during the attempted theft on January 25th, the duo drove an unlocked car into the unlocked garage of a single-family home in Schrems (Gmünd district). When the accused drove into the open in reverse gear, they were caught by the owner of the car. The man is said to have opened the driver’s door and, following a brief struggle with the handlebars, was dragged a short distance. Ultimately, the people who were still unknown at the time fled on foot and subsequently failed in a second attempt to steal the car.
Tools, scooters, e-bikes and 2 cars
The suspects primarily came across power tools, scooters, e-bikes and two cars during their crimes, the state police headquarters reported. The duo is said to have sold some looted items in Prague, and the majority of the stolen items were returned to the victims. The 27- and 31-year-olds mostly confessed. They were taken to the Krems prison.
