At the Sonnbergmarkt in Vienna-Döbling, market stall operator Georg Gutfleisch reported several burglaries that took place at the end of last year. The perpetrators smashed the shop doors with an emergency hammer and stole the cash register money.

Burglary Series at Sonnbergmarkt in Vienna-Döbling: Concerns of the Market Operators

In total, the burglars broke into four shops. Following the incidents, the fear among the market operators increased that there could be further burglaries. Gutfleisch then installed both outdoor lighting and an alarm system in his premises, as reported by ORF. The identified perpetrators were reportedly under 14 years old, which, due to their age of criminal irresponsibility, meant there were no legal consequences for them.

Incidents with Youth Gangs in Other Districts of Vienna

District chairman Daniel Resch (ÖVP) has noted that similar incidents have repeatedly occurred in Döbling in recent months. He believes that a youth gang is active in the district, which not only targets shops but also harasses passersby and behaves disruptively. These incidents often lead to police operations. To counteract this, a meeting with the police and school principals in Döbling was planned to discuss preventive measures.

Measures Against Youth Crime in Vienna

In addition to the incidents in Döbling, other districts such as Währing are also affected. The State Criminal Police Office has therefore established a special task force to combat youth crime. According to police spokeswoman Anna Gutt, individuals are deployed in each city police command to monitor youth crime. Continuous monitoring of the situation is intended to ensure that the figures are regularly reported to the State Criminal Police Office.

Perpetrators Mostly with Migration Background and Getting Younger

Between March and December 2024, a total of 568 reports were filed against juveniles in Vienna, while 55 individuals under 18 were arrested. In Austria, one is considered criminally responsible only from the age of 14. In cases of particularly serious or multiple offenses, so-called case conferences are held, involving the police, child and youth welfare services, and the parents.

According to Ingrid Pöschmann from MA 11, the perpetrators – often with migration backgrounds, refugee experiences, or family violence – show an increasing tendency towards violence and are getting younger. Currently, there are 20 to 30 children under 14 who cannot adequately access support services. To address this issue, MA 11 plans to significantly expand the offerings and specifically hire social educators and social workers for young people.

(Red)

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