Dusk falls quickly over Mauer, and yet it is only noon. In the idyllic Vienna-Liesing district never much happens anyway, at the moment it almost seems deserted. Detached houses with gardens are lined up in small, open settlements – the favorite territory of burglars at dusk.
And these are back after a two-year Corona break! The number of burglaries in Vienna has risen remarkably in recent weeks. No one knows this better than Chief Inspector Werner König and his 20-person team. The troops of the EGS (operational group to combat street crime) have dedicated themselves to tracking down burglar gangs – and took the “Krone” on patrol.
Expansive rim hit hard
At first glance, it is an unequal duel: the criminals – most of whom come from Georgia, Slovakia and Serbia – enter unnoticed and can cover a sizeable field: the sprawling suburbs of the city are particularly affected by the invasion of the twilight, from Mauer to Oberlaa, from Essling to the posh districts of Währing and Döbling.
“need long research”
The perpetrators face a total of 40 EGS specialists in two groups. Catching a burglar by sheer chance would be like winning the lottery. The secret is in the preparation: “Long research is needed to assess a possible target area,” explains König before entering the “field”.
The perpetrator groups usually strike in the same area over a period of several weeks, practically grazing it. They prefer houses or apartments where it is easy to break into unsecured patio or balcony doors. And which ones are dark.
patience and experience
“Light is the best protection against burglars at dusk,” says König. Besides careful preparation, patience and experience are the most effective weapons of burglars. And so they lurk almost invisibly in the Grätzel. Until the fall snaps.
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.
