Last year, bicycle thieves stole approximately 750 valuable bicycles in Carinthia alone. The estimated total damage is probably in the millions. And the negative criminal trend continues.
“Triathlon bike stolen for several thousand euros from a cellar in Klagenfurt” – one of the most recent police reports that already seems commonplace. As has been reported several times, bicycles are the new gold among criminals. No wonder: an e-bike that is worth around 7,000 euros can easily be resold for 5,000 euros.
And so, according to information from “Krone”, about 750 bicycles were stolen in Carinthia alone last year – mainly from a total of 744 reported cellar burglaries. Assuming that the average value of a stolen bicycle is ‘only’ 2,000 euros, the total damage amounts to around 1.5 million euros.
Several organized gangs
And the criminal trend continues this year: basement burglars recently stole six expensive bicycles worth tens of thousands of euros in Wolfsberg. According to Peter Biedermann, head of anti-burglary at the Carinthian Police, we are dealing with several organized groups that specialize in the theft of bicycles.
They probably arrive at the crime scene in vans and usually disappear with their loot directly across the border to the east or south. The investigations are extremely difficult due to, among other things, a lack of leads, the absence of eyewitness reports and sporadic border controls.
The problem is often that the connecting doors between garages and cellars are not locked for convenience,” says Rainer Tripolt, head of prevention at the criminal investigation department of the state of Carinthia. Padlocks on the basement compartments do not constitute an obstacle for burglars in any case.
It is advisable to lock the parked bicycle with a bicycle lock, but this rarely deters perpetrators. “The safest way is to secure the bicycle to the wall or floor with sturdy anchors. The burglars rarely come with heavy tools.”
Desire for surveillance cameras
But you should at least take the front wheel with you to your apartment – this makes it more difficult for perpetrators to transport the bike away. And maybe they give up. The criminologists also want residential facilities to be equipped with surveillance cameras. Which is rarely the case.
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.
