When residents die, their houses and apartments usually remain empty for a while. An unemployed German citizen took advantage of this circumstance: he stole jewelry, cash and weapons from the homes of recently deceased people. The scam worked for seven years!
He shamelessly took advantage of the deaths of others: a 42-year-old German is said to have specifically searched for obituaries on the Internet, then searched the abandoned apartments and houses and entered them. There he took what he could find and then sold the loot online. The 42-year-old’s scam worked for more than seven years until he was caught red-handed in November of the previous year, the ‘Krone’ reported.
Commercial theft with serious consequences
At least that is the accusation of the Ried public prosecutor, who is charging the German with the crime of serious business theft through burglary. The trial continues on Monday. “The suspect used Google Maps to find out where he could best enter the houses,” said Alois Ebner, spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service. The 42-year-old is said to have broken into 64 cases in this way, mainly in the districts of Ried, Schärding and Wels.
Numerous evidences
The suspected serial thief – he lived in Germany at the time of the crimes, was unemployed there and is now in custody – has only partially confessed and points to gaps in his memory. Sometimes he also came across apartments that had already been looted, the suspect said. “But we have plenty of evidence, such as footprints,” says Ebner.
Caught in the last burglary
Last but not least, investigators were able to secure evidence of the 42-year-old’s latest coup. A dog patrol caught him red-handed and burglary tools were found in his car. In the “most successful” burglary, the German is said to have stolen weapons worth almost 34,000 euros. “In total, the value of the stolen goods is approximately 92,000 euros. “In addition, there is 20,000 euros worth of material damage due to broken doors, windows and the like,” Ebner explains. The suspect (the presumption of innocence applies) risks a prison sentence of up to ten years.
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.
