Threat to Existence – Mail Partner must replace loot after robbery

On August 22, the married couple Hans and Heidi H. opened a kiosk on the market square in Obernberg am Inn, in which a Postpartner branch would also be operated. “It was the express wish of citizens and local politicians,” explains the 51-year-old. Things also got off to a good start, but after about three weeks the shock came: “On September 14, a man in a helmet and motorcycle clothing suddenly came through the door, held a gun to my head and put a note in front of me. nose. It said in poor English that I had to open the cash register.”

No risk taken
H. took no chances and did as the robber ordered: “I didn’t want to endanger my wife, because she was hiding in a corner.” The robbery was over after about two minutes and the perpetrator made off with 7,355 euros. . Unfortunately, there is still no trace of the unknown and the loot – it was the cash from the post office cash register.

repayment in installments
“After the robbery, the post office did not offer us any support. They only checked the safe, but nothing was stolen from it,” says H. The robbery still had consequences for the couple. On January 24, they both received an e-mail. mail, in which Hans H. was obliged to pay back the stolen amount to the post office in installments.”I was told that our monthly commission would be withheld until the full amount was paid. But since I need the commission amounts to keep the business running I had to temporarily close the shop last Wednesday.”

Insured against theft
He is insured against robberies, but the Oberösterreichische Versicherung takes the position that compensation may only be paid for loot that hits the kiosk. The money from the Postpartner cash register is not included. “I feel especially sorry for the people in Obernberg. Every day there are parcels and letters at the door, and unfortunately I have to send them away,” the small business owner is disappointed.

The WKOÖ assured H. of legal support. He is also considering a signature campaign.

Comment “Crown”:The powers end
It is perhaps most people’s nightmare to look down the barrel of a loaded gun and be faced with the ultimatum: money or life. And even if you dutifully follow what the threat orders, there is still a risk that the other person will shoot anyway.
Whoever has to participate in such a thing looks death in the face, at least for a fraction of a second. The Innviertler kiosk operator Hans H. made this experience and put it away brilliantly. He didn’t collapse, didn’t burn out. He quickly reopened his business premises to provide the residents of Obernberg with the usual services. The fact that he could now be made a pawn financially is beyond his power.