No desire to go to school – youth gangs are busy with their criminal mischief

The eldest of the gang, a 19-year-old German, already has a criminal record and is currently in custody in Feldkirch prison. The other three Pappenheimers, including the German’s ex-girlfriend, are only 15 years old. Nobody wants to go to school or work anyway. A bad childhood, wrong circles of friends and youthful stupidity always work in court.

‘Adverse circumstances’ are intended to ensure leniency
And so here too, the public defenders are hoping for leniency from the jury and brought up the “unfavorable circumstances” of their clients during the meeting last Wednesday. It concerns numerous burglaries, dangerous threats, stolen goods and robberies in various constellations in the Oberland, almost two months ago.

You steal two e-bikes from a bike rack and play with them. You go to a primary school in Tosters, where you crack the classroom cash register, steal tablets and headphones from the boardroom and so on. The damage amounts to more than 5,000 euros.

The most serious crime concerns the 19-year-old German. At a bus stop in Feldkirch Tosters he stands with a clenched fist in front of two skinny students and demands money. But the supposedly hungry homeless man rejects the offered coins and helps himself by stealing a ten-euro note from one of the victims.

Work instead of robbing children
Public prosecutor Wilfried Siegele is outraged by this insolence. “How about working instead of robbing?” Where do we end up if we rob children in broad daylight?” After a brief deliberation by the jury, the presiding judge, Lisa Pfeifer, announced the verdict against the four criminals.

The 19-year-old was given a partial prison sentence of 12 months. Two of the friends escaped with partial fines of 960 and 1,440 euros respectively. The fourth member of the group, who was the least guilty, may make up for his guilt by performing community service. The rulings are already legally binding.