Four Belarusians, aged between 19 and 32, posed as Ukrainian refugees in numerous accommodations across Austria and then went on a theft spree. The men primarily stole high-priced bicycles, but also committed minor shop thefts.

At the end of September 2024, a 22-year-old suspect was nabbed in Graz. Investigations led to his accomplices. They were handcuffed in January, the police said on Tuesday.

Thieves Spied on Shops: Damage Amounting to Several Tens of Thousands of Euros

The investigation began with the arrest of the 22-year-old after a shop theft. Officers from the Plüddemanngasse police station got the case rolling and it quickly became clear that it was a case of commercial theft - with a "brazen approach", as the investigators said: The four men allegedly first posed as refugees from Ukraine with fake IDs. Then they toured Austria with the visa and false identity they had obtained. They booked accommodations at different locations all over Austria and changed both vehicles and places of stay.

During their raids, they targeted shops that they spied on during opening hours. Goods were also prepared for theft. One of the accomplices observed the premises, a third picked up the stolen goods. The damage is estimated to be several tens of thousands of euros. Part of the loot was recovered. The four men were arrested and are now in pre-trial detention.

(APA/Red)

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