Prison Sentence in Vienna for Helper of ATM Robber Gang

Of the 24 months, the 20-year-old only has to serve five months. The verdict is not final. The young woman from Burgenland wanted to help her mother, who had fallen into financial difficulties after the divorce. On January 14, she met one of the criminals. The gang - Dutch with Moroccan background - has been causing insecurity in Europe for some time by prying open the sliding doors of bank branches and then cracking the ATMs in the foyer with explosives. The money that spills out is quickly packed up and they make their escape. The heists usually last only a few minutes, as the prosecutor explained. For the operations, they usually recruit accomplices from the respective country to help with renting getaway vehicles or logistics.

ATM Bombing Gang: Promised Wages of 10,000 to 20,000 Euros

In this case, they hired the 20-year-old and promised her 10,000 to 15,000 euros in wages if she performed driving services for the gang and rented two cars. Initially, the woman picked up two rental cars. A Fiat Ducato van served as a hiding place for two mopeds, which they intended to use for the escape immediately after the crime. The 20-year-old had to park the van in Liesing. A second car, a Golf R7, was then provided for the escape further to Germany in Donaustadt.

For the explosives, the woman from Burgenland then drove with an accomplice to the Czech Republic to purchase firecrackers there. The black powder from the pyrotechnics was then used to build the explosive device.

Four ATMs Blown Up in Alt Erlaa in Vienna

On January 21, the crime was carried out. Five members of the gang blew up four ATMs in a bank foyer at the Alt-Erlaa shopping park in Liesing. The detonation not only devastated the bank in Anton-Baumgartner-Straße but also surrounding shops and establishments. The damage amounts to 1.3 million euros. With loot of 90,000 euros, the five then fled on the mopeds, which were later found and secured in Draschepark.

Originally, the plan was for the men to continue their escape with the Golf, but it was not authorized for trips abroad. The criminals then wanted the 20-year-old to take the five to Germany, which she did not do out of fear. To avoid having to help the men, who repeatedly pressured her, the woman from Burgenland handed over her mother's car to them. The gang promised to bring the car back to Vienna during their next heist.

20-Year-Old Had to Retrieve Car from Frankfurt

However, because two gang members were arrested in Germany, it became too risky for the others to re-enter Austria. They sent the young woman a video showing where the car was parked in Frankfurt. She took the train to Germany to retrieve the vehicle.

Through the analysis of the arrested individuals' phones, investigators discovered frequent communication with the 20-year-old Austrian, who was then arrested on March 14. "I am deeply sorry," the woman said before the jury court. "I regret it deeply." She had "somehow slipped into it. I couldn't go back. They put pressure on me." In the end, she did not receive the promised money for her services, only 2,000 euros. Most of it went towards retrieving the car from Germany, and with the remaining pay, she bought a gym membership. "There wasn't really much left," said the 21-year-old.

"I was in so deep. I just wanted to finish it and have nothing more to do with it," she said when asked by the judge why she hadn't stopped. She emphasized that she did not know when and where the ATMs were to be blown up. When the crime happened, she was lying in her bed at home in Burgenland.

Further Offense Charged After Brawl

The young woman was found guilty of aggravated theft by burglary as part of a criminal organization and of intentional endangerment by explosives as an accessory. She was also convicted of assault and dangerous threat because she attacked the accident opponent and her companion after a car accident on the Gürtel in November 2024. Additionally, the revocation of a suspended sentence for attempted aggravated assault was waived, and the probation period was extended.

Since the 20-year-old has been in custody for three months, she now has only two months left to serve. After that, she will be provided with probation assistance and must complete anti-violence training. While the defendant accepted the verdict in tears, the prosecutor made no statement.

(APA/Red)

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