Court remands Dorotheum robbery suspect in custody

A 36 year old man who allegedly robbed a Dorotheum branch in Vienna’s Währing district last Thursday has confessed and was placed in pre trial detention by the Vienna Regional Court on Wednesday, ORF reported.

The court cited the risk of further offences and flight as grounds for detention, court spokeswoman Christina Salzborn told the Austrian Press Agency. The detention order is initially valid for 14 days.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly made a full confession and described the robbery as an impulsive act. He said gambling debts were his motive. The man has previous criminal convictions.

The robbery triggered a major police operation. The masked man entered the branch carrying an air pistol, prompting employees to flee and alert police. He gathered jewellery but appears to have been surprised by the rapid arrival of officers.

Police deployed units from Cobra, WEGA and the police dog department after a possible hostage situation was feared. Officers sealed off a wide area around the branch. The suspect fled through a rear exit, leaving the stolen items behind.

He also left fingerprints at the scene. Because he had previously come to the attention of the courts, his fingerprints were already in the police database. Investigators matched the traces and arrested him near his home in Währing on Sunday evening.