More Violence, Robberies, and Burglaries: Vienna Has Never Been This Criminal

On Monday, the current crime statistics for Vienna were released. The sharp increase in youth crime is a major problem not only nationwide but also in the federal capital. While 8,360 suspects under the age of 18 were registered in 2010, the number rose to 14,804 in the previous year 2024 (2023: 11,118).

Repeat offenders under 14 dominate burglaries in Vienna

The accused are getting younger, and an increase in suspects aged ten to 14 was recorded in Vienna, as well as nationwide. In 2010, there were 1,419 in this age group who committed a crime, and by 2024 the number of suspects rose to 5,066 (2023: 3,186). An increase from 6,737 to 9,522 suspects was also recorded in Vienna in the age group of 14 to 18-year-olds (2023: 7,865). In the federal capital, there is also a small group of repeat offenders, mostly underage - that is, under 14 years old - who are responsible for more than 30 percent of business and car burglaries in Vienna committed by youths.

Due to the alarming numbers, preventive work in this area was intensified in Vienna last year. An interdisciplinary working group "Child and Youth Crime" was established in Vienna, in which, in addition to the police, several departments of the City of Vienna's magistrate, the Vienna Regional Court, as well as several associations and NGOs are involved.

Crime in Vienna increased overall last year

Overall, police reports in Vienna increased from 186,475 in 2023 to 194,981 in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 4.6 percent. The number of solved crimes increased from 82,584 to 84,696 in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, the clearance rate fell from 44.3 percent to 43.4 percent due to the higher total number of reports.

The total number of identified suspects in Vienna increased from 98,878 in 2023 to 98,996, marking a peak for at least two decades. The proportion of accused foreigners in the federal capital is 57.1 percent (55.3 percent in the previous year). This proportion has continuously increased from 49.1 percent since 2015 to 57.1 percent.

More reports of burglaries and thefts in 2024

In the largest group of offenses, namely reported criminal acts against foreign property, there was an increase of 4.7 percent, from 125,263 to 131,101. There were increases, for example, in the area of burglary theft from 28,696 to 32,966 offenses, but a decrease in simple theft from 37,350 to 36,005 offenses. The sharp increase in burglary thefts is largely due to the increase in car burglaries from 2,182 to 4,909 offenses.

The burglaries in apartments and residential houses have decreased from 3,591 in 2023 to 3,124 in 2024. Also declining are the theft of passenger cars from 374 to 365, as well as pickpocketing and trick theft from 6,416 to 5,908. For a longer-term comparison: In 2010, the number of cases of burglary in apartments and residential houses was still 9,298, the number of cases of car theft 1,763, and the number of pickpocketing and trick theft 29,037.

In the area of economic crime, the number of reports has increased from 38,372 to 39,694 by 3.4 percent. A predominant part of this concerns reports of "serious fraud" with an increase from 2,686 to 3,812 (plus 41.9 percent). Cases of "social benefits fraud" have risen from 2,234 to 2,626 (plus 17.5 percent). However, the number of reports of "order or goods fraud" has decreased from 6,155 to 5,826 (minus 5.3 percent).

Vienna Crime Statistics 2024 Show Decline in Internet Crime

There was a trend reversal in the area of internet crime. The numbers fell for the first time from 23,060 in 2023 to 21,210 in 2024, thus by eight percent. Cases of "internet fraud" also decreased from 8,930 to 8,513 offenses (minus 4.7 percent). Cybercrime offenses in the narrower sense are also declining; here especially reports of "fraudulent data processing misuse" with a decrease from 10,646 to 9,311 cases (minus 12.5 percent).

Also More Murders, Rapes, and Attacks in Public Places

The number of reports of violent crimes has increased from 29,485 to 31,006 (plus 5.2 percent) - for example, in "bodily harm" (from 15,566 to 16,268 cases (plus 4.5 percent), as well as in "rape" from 468 to 519 cases (plus 10.9 percent). In the majority of cases, there was an acquaintance relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, and therefore a correspondingly high clearance rate of 75.1 percent.

The number of reports of violence against officials has increased from 627 to 665 by 6.1 percent. In 2024, 26 completed murders were committed in Vienna (2023: 19), of which 24 could be solved (2023: 19). Robbery offenses have increased overall from 1,180 in 2023 to 1,394 cases (plus 18.1 percent) in 2024, with a clearance rate of 42.3 percent (2023: 43 percent).

The high increase in robbery offenses is solely attributable to attacks in public places. In 2023, there were 776 and in 2024, 952 committed and reported attacks. For comparison: In 2010, there were still 2,830 robbery offenses with a clearance rate of 24.8 percent.

(APA/Red)

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