Burglars target businesses in Vienna’s Nordbahnviertel

Four business premises were broken into overnight in Vienna’s Nordbahnviertel, a neighbourhood in the Leopoldstadt district, with cash the main target, ORF reported.

Security cameras at Ichiban Tea on Bruno-Marek-Allee recorded part of the break-in at about 2.15am on Friday. Café Vogel and wine shop Weinrudi were also hit. The report also named Sorso and Der Burgenländer among businesses affected.

Business owners said the burglars smashed windows and took cash registers, leaving other valuables behind. At Café Vogel, only the cash drawer and its change were stolen, owner Ali Vogel said. Weinrudi owner Rudolf Wrany said the damage had left staff with shattered glass, frayed nerves and a sense of insecurity.

Michael Knoll, head of the Bruno-Marek-Allee shopping street association and owner of Starbike, said he was considering spending the next two nights in his shop. Rafaela Kathan-Kupfner of Wildes Böckle also called for more police presence.

District head Alexander Nikolai said he would renew his call for a police station in the Nordbahnviertel. The district plans to discuss the latest break-ins with businesses, police and the Chamber of Commerce at a meeting next week. Police said the investigation was ongoing. The neighbourhood has also faced break-ins in garages and cellars, as well as bicycle thefts.