For about a year now, more and more burglaries have been taking place in metal processing companies in Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Switzerland. The criminals were mainly after copper. Now the Romanian gang has been caught. A fence from Götzis was also found. The scrap dealer bought the stolen goods from the gang. Although he denies having resold larger quantities profitably, the evidence speaks a different language. Officials found two Porsches on the company premises.
Since October 2021, the number of burglaries in metal processing companies has increased. goods sometimes large amounts of copper and scrap metal were stolen. During the investigations conducted, there were specific links to similar burglaries in the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau and Zurich. The police eventually assumed that a cross-border gang was at work. Also in Switzerland Pickup stolen to remove scrap metal. The cars were found in Vorarlberg. They are now back in the possession of their owners.
In the course of the investigation, a concrete suspicion arose against a Romanian group that, in addition to burglaries targeting copper and scrap, had also committed other business and industrial burglaries. The members of the gang, aged between 30 and 51, were eventually arrested and taken to Feldkirch Prison. Only one perpetrator is still on the run, he is currently wanted.
The criminals committed a total of 175 burglaries in Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Switzerland and caused a total damage of more than 1.2 million euros, which consists of the value of the stolen goods worth approximately 818,000 euros and property damage of approximately 423,000 euros. In Vorarlberg and Tyrol, they committed a total of 37 burglaries and made off with stolen goods with a total value of approximately EUR 305,000 and caused material damage of approximately EUR 115,000.
Austrian fencing with Porsche duo
The buyer of the stolen goods could also be traced. It is an Austrian scrap seller from Götzis. He is accused of buying €220,000 worth of copper and scrap metal from the gang. He admits that he bought large quantities of copper and scrap from the Romanian nationals and resold them at a profit, but denies the large quantities. The finds of the officials on his business premises and at his home address contradict this:
So were, among others 69,000 euros in cash, a Porsche Panamera and a Porsche Carrera 911 are seized. Furthermore, forged documents and bank details were seized, which were intended to demonstrate the buyer’s high liquidity. This allowed him to borrow a total of about 625,000 euros from various private individuals. The suspect used the forged documents to delay the repayments demanded. He took some of the stolen money to his business and used the rest privately. He was reported on suspicion of receiving stolen goods and serious fraud and also taken to Feldkirch Prison.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
