Police link suspect to five robberies of older people

Vienna police have linked a 27-year-old man arrested in September to five robberies targeting older people, some with physical disabilities. The suspect followed his victims and violently pushed them to the ground, ORF reported.

In some cases, he pushed victims down stairs and left them after taking their valuables. The Slovak man has previous convictions for property offences and drug-related offences. He had no fixed home or shelter in Vienna. Police suspect the crimes were committed to obtain money or valuables, police spokesman Markus Dittrich said Saturday.

The robberies took place in broad daylight between July 18 and August 26, in different districts. Police believe the victims were chosen at random. The suspect followed them after they had shopped at supermarkets or got off underground trains. They were aged between 68 and 85.

He attacked an 85-year-old man at the door of his apartment as the pensioner was taking off his outdoor shoes. After punching him in the face, the suspect tried to snatch his shoulder bag. The victim fought back, and the suspect dragged him several metres before he let go. The pensioner suffered serious facial injuries.

A 68-year-old woman suffered severe head injuries when she struck the edge of a step after being pushed to the ground. A 69-year-old man with a physical disability was attacked in the courtyard of his apartment building and could not defend himself. The suspect also took the wallet of a woman with severely impaired vision after attacking her in the stairwell and pushing her down the stairs towards the basement storage units.

The man was arrested on September 1 after a burglary at a commercial premises in Vienna’s Neubau district. Investigators identified him as the robber, who had been sought for some time and was captured by several surveillance cameras. He is being held on remand at Josefstadt prison on suspicion of further offences and flight risk. He is under investigation for five counts of aggravated robbery, burglary and other offences.