A homeless couple caused tens of thousands of euros in damage by renting hotels without paying.
Who hasn’t dreamed of staying in a luxurious hotel and not having to pay anything for it? In recent months, a German-Austrian couple has simply made many people’s dreams come true. The couple may have been relatively indifferent to the fact that they were breaking the law and causing great financial damage.
It was thanks to a patrol on duty at the Lindau-Insel train station in the city of Lake Constance that the case came to light. She became aware of a couple acting suspiciously. The check revealed something surprising: the 49-year-old man – he is from Germany – and his Austrian wife (44) were already wanted by various prosecutors.
Woman threw away keys in front of police officers
The reason: rental fraud. Someone spends the night in a hotel – and disappears before the bill can be paid. In addition, Austrian authorities issued a search warrant against the 49-year-old. The fraudster had not returned from a release from a local jail. Instead, he may have decided to live a lavish life with his wife; the couple has had no permanent address since July 2024. Instead of sitting behind barred windows, the German probably preferred to sit by the whirlpool and exchange the port fees for a breakfast buffet.
While her details were being recorded, the Austrian tried to throw a key into a rubbish bin. These were the keys to a hotel in Lindau. During a trip through Germany (and probably other countries), the couple rented a room there for three nights for 1,000 euros without paying. The next reservation for accommodation in Hesse had already been made.
Both back in custody
How many hotels, including luxury accommodation, the couple ultimately defrauded is now to be determined. The 49-year-old, who obtained a total of 35 identities for the fraudulent acts, is now back in an Austrian prison. His wife was imprisoned in Germany. The damage caused by the couple is in the mid-five figures.
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.
